Local News Roundup: Donations, Grants, and Community Events

Hard Rock Casino Donates $25K for Suicide Prevention

On World Suicide Prevention Day, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana contributed $25,000 to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The funds will support the Out of the Darkness Northwest Indiana Walk on October 3 in Highland’s Wicker Park. This donation was presented on September 10 at Hard Rock Casino in Gary.

For more details about the event, visit the Out of the Darkness Northwest Indiana Walk website.

VU Receives Institutional Impact Grant

Valparaiso University (VU) and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology secured a $492,703 Institutional Impact grant from the Educating Character Initiative at Wake Forest University. The grant will support ‘Building Lives for Good: Character Formation through Story.’ This initiative helps students form cohesive, internal narratives using storytelling as a pedagogical tool. The program will be piloted at both institutions, with plans to integrate learned experiences into their curriculums.

Women’s Fund Announces $65K in Grants

The Women’s Fund of Porter County has awarded $65,000 in grants to three local organizations supporting women and children. The Northwest Indiana Food Council and Parents as Teachers of Porter County each receive $25,000. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul receives $15,000. The Fund has contributed over $1 million since its inception to aid critical community programs.

More information is available on the Women’s Fund of Porter County website.

CLH Promotes Three to Managerial Roles

CLH, CPAs & Consultants in Michigan City has promoted Allison Leffert, Seth Bedwell, and Ashley Boyan to managerial positions. Leffert becomes a senior manager, having interned in 2014-2015 before joining full-time in 2016. Bedwell, after internships in 2020-2021 and joining as a staff accountant, steps into a manager role. Boyan, a 2018 joiner and LaPorte High School graduate, is promoted to assistant manager of the client service team.

Free Car Seat Safety Events by Franciscan Health

Franciscan Health Trauma Services hosts free car seat safety checks in honor of National Child Passenger Safety Month. The first event occurs on September 23 at Franciscan Health Michigan City’s Legacy Campus. A second event will be on September 25 at Lake County’s Munster Fire Station No. 2. Each car seat check lasts about 30 minutes per child. Reservations are required.

For more information, call 219-488-1380.

Franciscan Health Hosts SHE Conferences

Registration is open for the Franciscan Health’s SHE Women’s Health Conferences. The first event focuses on ‘The Evolution of the Empowered Woman’ and takes place on September 26 at Purdue University Northwest, Westville. The second event, ‘Take Charge of Your Health through Every Transition,’ is on October 23 in Hammond. These conferences feature expert-led discussions on various health topics.

Tickets and more information are available on the Franciscan Health events website.

PNW’s Record Student Retention

Purdue University Northwest reports a record 70.8% second-year student retention rate for the 2026-27 academic year, a nearly 5% increase from two years ago. The university welcomed 1,653 new undergraduates, predominantly from local high schools. Indiana residents account for about 80% of the 6,103 combined undergraduate and graduate students this fall.