Casino’s Contribution to Suicide Prevention
Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana has made a generous donation of $25,000 to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This contribution recognizes World Suicide Prevention Day and will fund the Out of the Darkness Northwest Indiana Walk on October 3 in Wicker Park, Highland. The donation was ceremonially presented on September 10 at the casino’s location in Gary. For those interested in the event, more details can be found on their website.
Grant for Character Education
Valparaiso University (VU) and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology have secured an Institutional Impact grant from Wake Forest University’s Educating Character Initiative. With a total value of $492,703, the grant will support the Building Lives for Good program. This initiative aims to help students develop a strong personal narrative through narrative pedagogy involving storytelling. After initial trials, both universities plan to incorporate findings into their curricula.
Women’s Fund Awards Local Grants
The Women’s Fund of Porter County has distributed $65,000 in grants to local organizations. This fund supports programs that address the needs of women and children. The recipients include the Northwest Indiana Food Council and Parents as Teachers of Porter County, each receiving $25,000. Additionally, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will benefit from a $15,000 grant. The fund has provided more than $1 million in total funds to local organizations since its inception.
CLH CPAs & Consultants Promotions
CLH, CPAs & Consultants of Michigan City has announced the promotion of three team members. Allison Leffert advances to senior manager, with a career at CLH that began with internships before joining full-time in 2016. Seth Bedwell steps into a manager role after starting as a staff accountant post-graduation from Trine University. Ashley Boyan is now the client service team assistant manager, a role she begins after joining the firm in 2018.
Free Car Seat Safety Checks
Franciscan Health Trauma Services is offering free car seat safety events during National Child Passenger Safety Month. Events will occur on September 23 at Franciscan Health Michigan City’s Legacy Campus and on September 25 at Munster Fire Station No. 2. The checks provide a full assessment and education, taking about 30 minutes per child. Pre-registration is required.
Franciscan Health’s Women’s Conferences
Registration is open for Franciscan Health’s Strong, Healthy, Empowered (SHE) Women’s Health Conferences. The events will explore themes around women’s health and personal growth. The first event on September 26 in Westville focuses on empowerment, while the October 23 event in Hammond encourages taking charge of health through life’s transitions. Details and tickets are available on their website.
Purdue University Northwest Enrollment Update
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) began the 2026-27 academic year with 1,653 new undergraduate students and a record 70.8% retention rate for second-year students. This is part of consecutive record years for retention. Most new students come from nearby service areas, and approximately 80% of all PNW students are Indiana residents. The combined enrollment for undergraduate, graduate, and online students stands at 6,103.