Fund Story

Robert and Anita Ludington embodied the “American Dream.” They were hard workers who valued education and determination. Robert served two tours with the US Navy, and received a degree from Purdue by taking classes at Barker Mansion. His job as a draftsman at Pullman-Standard led to an interest in railways.  With partner, Robert Holloway, he […]

Unity Foundation of La Porte County congratulates 11 local high school seniors as La Porte County finalists for the prestigious Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. Two students from La Porte County will be selected as 2015 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars, to receive a full-tuition scholarship to be used to pursue a baccalaureate degree at any accredited […]

Wilbur R. Deiters was an extremely private person, yet very kind and very friendly in a quiet way. Born and raised in La Porte, he was the only child of Henry and Minnie Deiters, German citizens who immigrated to the United States in the 1920s. Wilbur had a BS degree from Indiana University and worked […]

20 years ago, two families and the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce took a bold step and supported teachers where they needed it the most…in the classroom.  They wanted to support local education, but didn’t want to duplicate what they felt tax dollars should do.  They each invested seed money and started the Michigan City […]

Unity has a number of Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) with donors who actively participate in making grants to local charitable organizations. Some of these DAFs are guided by individuals, some by couples, some by entire families! Every fund is unique and has a special history. One La Porte County family, who for anonymity purposes will […]

Alzheimer’s disease has robbed Sandy Kowalski of much of her life. It has stolen her energetic personality, her determination, even her contact with the outside world. But it can never take away Sandy’s accomplishments. Her work, especially in the field of community health, will have an influence on LaPorte County for years to come. And […]

June B. Kelley’s avid love of gardening is still beautifully evident in the Long Beach community, even though she passed away five years ago. Her son, Dennis, created the June B. Kelley Garden Fund for Long Beach to support public gardens on Oriole Trail between the former Long Beach Elementary School and the Town Hall. […]

A boy was born in 1907. With his father passing away five months later, his mother was forced to place Ernest “Ernie” in a Budapest orphanage. At that time, she worked as a servant and therefore was unable to have him with her. Nearly 15 years later, the boy’s Iowa grandparents sent for Ernie and […]

Many, many, many years from now, when future generations are admiring the beauty of a globally rare dune-and-swale habitat in Hammond, tallgrass prairie in Hobart, oak savanna in Portage, Moraine forest in La Porte County, and other breathtaking natural wonders of Northwest Indiana, they may throw a glance back to 1981 and celebrate another anniversary […]

  Todd and Stephanie Dickard describe their family experience as ‘a story of ayoung person who made an impression.’ It’s a sad story, but it’s one where grief finds an outlet in the power of doing good. Todd and Stephanie’s daughter Carley died at the age of 16 in 2006 from a brain tumor. ‘She […]