Year: 2026
Recovery
After losing a close friend and mentor to cancer, John turned to alcohol to cope. It became an addiction that compounded his problems and led to isolation. Seeking support and a way forward, John learned about Three20 Recovery Community from his godmother and decided to explore further. Three20 Recovery empowers individuals recovering from substance use […]
Stewardship
Myrna Newgent learned the power of generous acts from her father. A World War II veteran, he continued his public service after the war by joining the volunteer fire department and helping to build the local firehouse and establish the rescue service. Born and raised in Virginia, Myrna and her husband, John, moved to northwest […]
First Things First Porter County Selected for The Stanford Center on Early Childhood 2026 RAPID Community Voices Cohort
VALPARAISO, IND. — First Things First Porter County (FTF), a leadership initiative of the Porter County Community Foundation, has been selected for The Stanford Center on Early Childhood (SCEC) 2026 RAPID Community Voices cohort. First Things First is the first organization in Indiana to be selected to participate with RAPID. The Porter County Community Foundation is the […]
Keeping Up
For a long time, Eva* was ‘flying under the radar.’ She was the quiet student teachers worry about most—struggling just enough to stay behind, but not enough to be noticed. Lacking confidence and easily overwhelmed by frustration, she often found herself in tears. Parents as Teachers of Porter County is an early childhood, parenting, and […]
A Message from Bill
Thirty years ago, a group of people in Porter County made a quiet decision that would change thousands of lives: they decided to invest in their own community, permanently. They could not have known what that decision would become. They simply believed Porter County was worth investing in, and they acted on that belief. You […]
Rebuilding
Keisha* left an abusive relationship and took refuge at a shelter for women, but her four children were not able to join her there. Instead, they stayed with a family member. The time apart was difficult and impacted their connection to each other. After six months, they were reunited at The Caring Place, where they […]
Spring Message
Imagine being three years old. You don’t know it yet, but the world forming around you right now — the voices, the touch, the stories read at bedtime, the feeling of being safe and seen — is quietly, powerfully building the architecture of who you will become. Eighty percent of brain development happens before a […]
Porter County Community Foundation Awards Over $250,000 to Local Community Organizations
VALPARAISO, IND. — The Porter County Community Foundation (PCCF) awarded $257,479 in grants to 33 local nonprofit organizations as part of the 2026 Spring Community Fund grant cycle. The following organizations and programs are receiving funding: The Caring Place – $10,000 to increase survivor safety through trauma-informed partnership with local law enforcement Daybreak Shelter – […]
Cherished
John and Sue Peyton moved from Ohio to her hometown of Valparaiso in 1979. John ran the family business. Sue spent twenty-two years teaching biology and chemistry at Boone Grove High School. Together, they raised two sons. Sue died in 2016. Now retired, John reflects on the community he has called home for nearly five […]
Porter County Community Foundation Awards Chesterton Art Center a Capital Grant
CHESTERTON, IND. — Chesterton Art Center is thrilled to announce that they have been awarded a $30,000 Capital Grant from the Porter County Community Foundation to support their 116 Expansion Project. CAC officially announced the acquisition of the building at 116 S. 4th St. (Chesterton, IN) in October 2025 and in November, launched a capital […]
