Latest news with #PNWBigSell
Chicago Tribune
18-05-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Business news: Mobile library donation and doula workshop
Franciscan Health Crown Point is hosting a doula certification workshop over two weekends in July, according to a release. Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their clients before, during and shortly after childbirth, the release said, but does not perform clinical tasks. The Franciscan Health Crown Point Family Birth Center offers free doula services to families through a volunteer doula program. The doula certification workshop will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. July 19-20 and July 26-27 at Franciscan Health Crown Point, 12750 St. Francis Drive. Participants must be 18 years old or older and attend all four days of classes to receive a certificate of completion. Registration must be completed by July 8. For more information, call 219-746-9134. Valparaiso University recently announced that LeAnn Hughes will be senior vice president of enrollment and marketing, according to a release. Hughes comes into the position after a nine-year tenure as the vice president of enrollment management and marketing at Illinois Wesleyan University. She starts at VU July 1. In this role, Hughes will oversee Undergraduate and Graduate Admission, Financial Aid, and Strategic Enrollment and Marketing Initiatives. Hughes brings 20 years of experience to the position on campus, having taken her first VP role at Tusculum University in 2005. Prior to working in enrollment management and marketing, Hughes served as the director of communications at King University, and as the director of marketing and sports development for the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce. The Gary Community School Corp. will host the Power of Partnership Parent Conference, a free conference, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. May 31 at the West Side Leadership Academy, 900 Gerry St., Gary, a release said. The event will be packed with engaging sessions, exciting activities and opportunities to connect with community resources that support education and family well-being, the release said. Included in the day will be a resource fair, massages and self-care opportunities, food and a keynote address by Crystal Melton, First Lady of Gary. Childcare will be provided. Those interested in attending can secure their spot by visiting the GCSC website and completing the registration form. For information, visit or contact jadams@ Three innovators earned investment capital for their startup concept pitches presented on May 3 during the 14th annual The PNW Big Sell pitch competition, a release said. The PNW Big Sell is sponsored by Northern Indiana Public Service Company and PNW's College of Business and Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center. Nabeel Rabie earned first place and $10,000 in seed funding for their pitch, Scent Seal. Allyson Straka earned second place and $3,000 for Frozen Garden. Paul Walczak received third place and $1,000 for Yuda, an invoicing and billing app for small service providers. An on-demand recording of the 2025 PNW Big Sell can be viewed on For more information about The PNW Big Sell, visit Families with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit at Franciscan Health Crown Point now have a variety of children's books to read to their children thanks to a donation from the Northwest Indiana Literacy Council, according to a release. The new mobile lending library was donated recently by members of the Northwest Indiana Literacy Council. The mobile library was made possible in part through a $2,500 Transforming Lake County grant from the Legacy Foundation, funded by Legacy Foundation Grant Committee member Bob Spajer of Crown Point. More information about the Franciscan Health Family Birth Center Crown Point and the NICU are available online or by phone at 219-757-6330. Franciscan Health is hosting a free car seat safety event May 29, according to a release. The event — co-hosted by the Trauma Services Department and the Prenatal Assistance Program — is scheduled to take place from 3-6 p.m. at Franciscan Health Michigan City, 3500 Franciscan Way. A nationally certified child passenger safety technician will work with participants to teach them how to properly install a car seat. The child who uses the car seat must be present at the appointment in order for the technician to provide appropriate guidance. The car seat safety check is free, but reservations are required, the release said. Registration is available online or by calling 219-488-1380. The Recycling & Waste Reduction District of Porter County is inviting qualified contractors to submit quotes for the grinding of organic brush and wood waste, along with the removal and hauling of materials from four locations within Porter County, according to a release. To provide interested parties with detailed information on the project requirements, a pre-bid meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Monday at the Valparaiso Compost Site. This meeting will cover specific requirements for each location, followed by a guided site visit to Valparaiso Compost Site, Crocker/Chesterton Compost Site, Portage Compost Site and Boone Grove Compost Site. For further information, or to request additional details about the grinding/hauling process, contact the Recycling & Waste Reduction District of Porter County via email at info@ The Porter County Sheriff's Office has created a new program for full-time college students looking for part-time employment, a press release said. C-StEP is an employment opportunity designed to give the full-time college student majoring in a law enforcement-related field, real-life experience by working inside the Porter County Jail. The student must be 18 years or older and will work 24 hours per week at a rate of $17 per hour and must remain a full-time student to participate, the release said. Interested students should visit to apply and any inquiries can be sent to rtaylor@ or 219-477-3065.
Chicago Tribune
27-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Business news: PNW Big Sell finalists named and Legacy Foundation nears goal
CCSJ raises $168K at annual event Calumet College of St. Joseph raised more than $168,000 recently at its 60th Annual Trustees' Scholarship Gala at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary, according to a release. Juan Andrade Jr. received the St. Joseph the Worker Award, one of Calumet College of St. Joseph's highest honors, while Hammond Councilman Mark Kalwinski, D-1st, received the Brother Gerard Von Hagel Alumni Award, which is given each year to a CCSJ alum who exemplifies the values of respect and understanding. Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation received the Corporate Leadership Award. All proceeds from the Scholarship Gala directly benefit CCSJ students and enable Calumet College of St. Joseph to provide educational access for underserved populations, the release said. Infectious disease physician joins Franciscan Dr. John Dougherty, an infectious disease specialist, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting patients in Michigan City, a release said. Dougherty attended medical school at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. He completed his residency in internal medicine at New York University in New York. His fellowship in infectious diseases was completed at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. He is accepting new patients at Franciscan Health Medical Pavilion, Suite 3E, 3500 Franciscan Way in Michigan City. Call 219-861-5539. Finalists chosen for PNW Big Sell pitch competition Purdue University Northwest has announced the finalists for the 2025 PNW Big Sell pitch competition, a release said. The 2025 Big Sell will start at 1 p.m. May 3, providing a space for aspiring entrepreneurs to pitch their business concepts for a chance to win seed funding, the release said. First through third place winners can win funding totals of $10,000, $3,000 and $1,000, respectively. The PNW Big Sell is sponsored by Northern Indiana Public Service Company and PNW's College of Business and Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center. The finalists are: Max Beller, Caiden Carlson, Alexis Karahalios, Dhara Patel, Nabeel Rabie, Allyson Straka, Orion Traulle, Felipe Trejo, Ashton Verbish, Paul Walczak and Donna Webster. For more information, visit Four-day machining program announced Ivy Tech Community College's Lake County campus is launching a four-day skills training program that aims to help area industries fill open jobs and grow the regional workforce, according to a release. The new CNC Automation & Programming Skills Training program focuses on lathe and mill skills within industrial machining firms. CNC, or computer numerical control, is a manufacturing method that automates the control, movement and precision of machine tools through the use of preprogrammed computer software. The course, open to individuals as well as industries looking to upskill their workforce, will be offered from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 23-24 and June 30-July 1 at Ivy Tech's East Chicago location, 410 E. Columbus Drive. Cost is $1,200 per person, the release said. Those interested can register at For information, contact dramirez52@ or SkillsTraining@ Black Chamber plans May 8 seminar in Hammond The Black Chamber of Commerce of Northwest Indiana will host a seminar/mixer on grant writing with AI, according to a release. Participants will learn how AI can help with winning grant writing while networking with other entrepreneurs and business owners from 6-10 p.m. May 8 at The Clipper Room at the Hammond Marina, 701 Marina Drive, Hammond. Cost is $50 per person. Call 219-802-0229 for reservations and information. Poll worker support earns Porter County national notice The Porter County Office of Elections and Voter Registration has been named one of 53 winners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission's Clearinghouse Awards recognizing best practices in election administration, according to a release. Also known as the 'Clearies,' the awards celebrate programs that took place during the 2024 presidential election year. Winning jurisdictions range from counties with less than 25,000 registered voters to states with more than 22.9 million. Porter County was honored for its work improving poll worker support in the small/medium jurisdictions category for best practices in recruiting, retaining and training poll workers, the release said. Lake County Forever at 90% of funding goal The head of Legacy Foundation, Lake County's community foundation, said the Lake County Forever campaign has hit the 90% mark of its $1.9 million goal with less than 90 days left in the campaign, according to a release. Lake County Forever is a partnership between Legacy Foundation and Lilly Endowment Inc., which is matching every dollar donated to the campaign with an additional $2 through June 30. The fund drive is expected to generate nearly $6 million for nonprofits throughout the county, said Kelly Anoe, President and CEO of Legacy Foundation, in the release. All the donations will go into unrestricted funds, which means Legacy Foundation's Grants Committee will have the flexibility to provide grants to a much wider array of nonprofits, the release said. Interested donors can go to where they'll find a direct link to a donation page. More than $10K raised for Ivy Tech Day Ivy Tech Community College's Lake County campus raised more than $10,000 to support scholarships and programs on this year's Ivy Tech Day, the college's third annual day of giving, a release said. More than 2,800 alumni, friends and partners across Indiana donated $483,813 on April 8 to help more than 200,000 students across Ivy Tech's 19 campuses. The Lake County campus received donations totaling $10,025. This year's total brings the three-year cumulative giving statewide to more than $1 million since the first Ivy Tech Day in 2023. The contributions fund the greatest needs at each campus, the release said. FAITH Farms dinner recognizes nutrition effort FAITH (Families Anchored in Total Harmony) CDC recently hosted its Appreciation Dinner at Sole Cafe in Gary, honoring the staff, community partners and program participants for their continued support of the Food is Medicine Program, a release said. Faith Farms is committed to addressing systemic challenges surrounding food insecurity and chronic health conditions. Partners whose collaboration has aided Faith Farms' continued impact were also honored. They include: Community HealthNet, Methodist Hospitals, Edgewater Health, Marram Health Care, Oak Street Health, Indiana University Northwest's School of Urban Medicine, IUN C.U.R.E., the Lake County Health Department, the Legacy Foundation, NorthShore Health Centers, the local chapter of AARP, and a host of dedicated physicians and medical providers. To learn more about how to support Faith Farms and join the Food is Medicine movement contact Farm Administrator Freida Graves at 219-880-0850 or email faithgaryin@ PNW Day of Giving set for April 30 Purdue University Northwest invites community members to support PNW students April 30 by making a gift during its annual PNW Day of Giving 24-hour fundraiser. PNW Day of Giving is the university's largest and most successful campaign that benefits student scholarships, academic and athletic programs, and resources that benefit PNW students, a release said. Supporters are encouraged to visit on April 30 to make a gift of their choice to PNW. To contribute, visit from 11 p.m. April 29 through 11 p.m. April 30 and select 'Donate' or 'Give Now' to make a gift. Supporters may also call 219-989-2323 to make a gift.
