In the thirty years since the creation of the Porter County Community Foundation, you have demonstrated generosity in ways we never could have predicted. As we celebrate this milestone, we are taking a moment to reflect on the past, look ahead to the future, and, most importantly, thank you for your role in transforming our community.

Porter County is a better place today than it was thirty years ago because of you. Together, we are building a strong and vibrant community where babies receive the best possible start in life, a robust network of mission-driven organizations work to support our neighbors in a variety of ways, and residents of all ages benefit from all that our community has to offer.

I hope you will join us for an open house on October 8 celebrating thirty years of generosity and partnership. Come see the history that we’ve built together. Meet other philanthropic individuals, past and present board members, staff, special guests, and community members with a common vision to build a stronger Porter County.

Whether you are part of our past, present, or future, I look forward to celebrating with you.

-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 are the reason that decision has mattered.

Since PCCF awarded its very first grants in 1997, the growth has been extraordinary. What started as a modest investment has grown into something far larger than anyone could have predicted. As of December 31, 2025, PCCF has awarded more than $55 million in grants and scholarships to 1,018 organizations. Education. Housing. Food access. Mental health. Recovery. Environmental preservation. Arts and culture. The Community Fund reaches into every corner of community life.

That breadth matters because needs in a community do not arrive one at a time, neatly categorized. They arrive all at once, in the same neighborhoods, sometimes in the same families. A child struggling in kindergarten may be living in a home touched by food insecurity. A person in recovery may also be rebuilding family relationships fractured by years of isolation. PCCF’s Community Fund exists precisely because community is not a single issue — it is everything, all at once, and it deserves sustained, intentional support. When local nonprofits know that support is there, something changes. They can plan. They can grow. They can say yes to the family that walks through the door.

This is our 30th anniversary year. PCCF has grown from a promising idea into a significant force for good in northwest Indiana, not because of any single gift, but because hundreds of donors believed Porter County was worth it. And acted.

During this 30th year of community partnership, gifts to the Community Fund will continue to impact lives in every corner of Porter County. We invite you, a valued member of our community, to consider a gift of $30, $300, or even $500 or more. Thank you for being part of this powerful shared work that quietly knits our community together.

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 child turns three. Not by age ten. Not by kindergarten. By three.

That truth is what keeps us focused on First Things First.

Five years ago, the Porter County Community Foundation launched First Things First Porter County because we believe that when a community truly takes care of its youngest children, everything else gets better — schools, workforce, health, hope. It is the longest of long games, and it is exactly the kind of work this community foundation was built to champion.

Today, First Things First Porter County brings together 70 partner agencies united around this single, urgent conviction: that the first three years of a child’s life are the most important three years of any life.

In this issue—in mailboxes now and online over the coming weeks— we want to introduce you to three of those partners and the families whose lives are changing because of the work you make possible here in Porter County. Their stories are the reason we do this work. We think they will move you.

This special Annual Report issue highlights organizations and people who strengthen our community by providing connection for community members in recovery, support for students as they enter school, hope for survivors of domestic violence, and resources to preserve the natural beauty of our region.

As we celebrate our 30th anniversary this year, we find ourselves overwhelmed with gratitude — for this community, for partners who show up with excellence and compassion, and for donors like you who believe, as we do, that generosity invested in the right places at the right time changes everything.

You are proof that taking care of First Things First works. Thank you for being part of this.

With gratitude,

Bill Higbie, President & CEO
Matt Vessely, Board Chair

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 decades and the ways he can share some of what he has for the benefit of others.

As a long-time donor to the Porter County Community Foundation, John was familiar with the Foundation’s role in creating and managing permanent endowment funds. The idea of making a charitable gift aligned with his values, knowing it would continue to be felt for generations to come.

In 2024, to honor Sue’s memory, he established two funds that will support science education at the school where she taught. The first, the Sue Peyton Endowment Fund for Boone Grove High School Science Department, provides an annual disbursement to support expenses not covered in the budget, creating opportunities for additional impactful learning experiences. “It was important to Sue to provide exceptional learning experiences for her students,” John said. “Having some extra funding available will help make that possible.”

Second, the Sue Peyton Science Prize is awarded by the science teachers to a graduating senior to assist with college expenses. “I’m a believer in academics,” John said. “I want to encourage students to go on and further their education—especially good science students.”

PCCF is honored to manage these funds in memory of Sue that support science education in our community. Through John’s gifts, the cause she cherished will receive perpetual support, and the teachers and students at Boone Grove High School will forever be reminded that Sue Peyton cared.

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 like Sarah and their children by facilitating healthy family interactions. In 2025, Family House served 75 families and more than 100 children. Working closely with the court, the organization fills an important community need—a safe and comfortable place for supervised visitation services and custody exchanges as well as parenting education and support groups. A $10,000 grant from the Porter County Community Fund in 2025 funded the repair of Family House’s front porch, creating a safer and more welcoming entryway for families.

“Learning how to put children first can be difficult for parents when dealing with mental health issues, substance abuse, or domestic violence,” said Kamryn Shtompil, Family House Executive Director. “Our ‘house’ provides a comforting, home-like environment for quality family time, while our staff members combine knowledge and care to create a nurturing space for the children and parents to grow their relationships.”

Sarah spent time at Family House while her baby was 6 months to 2 years old. Today she and her child, who is now in elementary school, are thriving. Because of Family House, they built a strong bond during a critical development stage. Without this resource, the relationship would have been paused while Sarah accessed treatment for her mental health struggles. She is proud of her progress and attributes it to her experience with Family House.

Family House is one of many vital nonprofits supporting families in Porter County. Your philanthropic support of the Porter County Community Foundation helps Family House maintain a safe, home-like environment for the families it serves. Thank you for partnering with us to make a difference in the lives of parents and children in our community.

*Name changed to protect confidentiality.