Author: Lauren Varga
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 […]
Bond
Sarah* and her husband wanted to grow their family. When she found out she was expecting, it felt like a dream. Unfortunately, she faced postpartum mental health issues out of her control and made choices that jeopardized her baby’s safety. A court order for supervised visits brought her to Family House. Family House supports parents […]
Stabilizing
Amanda* recently moved to the area with her children after leaving an abusive relationship. She found housing and employment and was working to rebuild her life in a new community. Unfortunately, the vehicle she depended on to get to her job and transport her children was not safe or reliable, jeopardizing her family’s stability. Porter […]
Porter County Community Foundation Welcomes Kevin Nuppnau as Vice President
VALPARAISO, IND. — Kevin Nuppnau has been named the Vice President of the Porter County Community Foundation. Kevin’s primary responsibilities will be developing, expanding, and deepening relationships and promoting the value of philanthropy in building endowed resources. In addition, he will lead the Foundation’s nonprofit education and professional development efforts to strengthen the capacity of PCCF’s […]
Winter Message
As we celebrate our 30th anniversary this year, we begin with an announcement grounded in gratitude. For over two years, we worked toward a lofty goal—raising $1.5 million for our Community Fund to leverage a $3 million matching gift from Lilly Endowment. Because of your generosity and care for this community, we met our goal. […]
Essentials
Four-year-old Zoe* loved rainbows, unicorns, and wearing her hair in braids. She did not have a stable home environment and lived with her mom in a car temporarily before being placed in a foster home. MAKS supports kids like Zoe by providing personal care and comfort items as well as clothing and furniture while they […]
Porter County Community Foundation Announces 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars
VALPARAISO, IND. — Ashlyn Gentry, Sophia Ho, and Katherine Newbanks are the recipients of the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Porter County. The prestigious scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees and an allocation for required books and equipment for four years of undergraduate education at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college […]
Multiplier
Justin knew little about the area when he moved to Porter County in 2018. He grew up in the Chicago suburbs, and his wife, Heather, grew up in South Bend. His job as a financial planner brought them to Valparaiso. “We fell in love with the community,” said Justin. “We have access to everything we […]
