From Our Leaders
Unity Foundation of La Porte County’s mission is to Strengthen La Porte County Now and Forever. We do this by building permanent endowments, addressing local needs through strategic grantmaking and scholarships and providing leadership on emerging community issues.
Thanks to the leadership and generosity of visionary donors, Unity’s assets have grown to more than $45 million since 1992. In 2023, caring people started eight new funds, for a total of 402 funds. Through the power of endowment, the fruits of these funds will be spent in La Porte County year after year…forever. These milestones show how generous and caring people are here…Unity is here to help them and you to leave a lasting legacy.
In this report, you will read stories about impactful people and programs in La Porte County and discover how you can join in this important work. You will also learn how Unity’s community leadership role has been elevated on a local and regional level through Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) VIII initiative.
We are inspired by our donors, educators, scholarship recipients, nonprofit partners, businesses and residents addressing complex issues in our diverse communities. We are grateful to the many community partners who work alongside us to realize La Porte County’s potential and ensure Unity remains a ‘Power for Good’ for our communities.
Sincerely,
Maggi Spartz
President
Jon A. Gilmore
Chair
Giving
Ways to Give
Give to Unity Foundation, your favorite fund or start a new fund!
We are grateful for all gifts received, no matter the size, and welcome gifts in many different forms, including:
- One-Time Cash, Check, Credit Card or ACH Donations
- Recurring Monthly, Quarterly, or Yearly Gifts
- Securities or Stocks
- Grain
- Real Estate
- Mention Unity or Your Favorite Fund in Your Will
- Life Insurance or Retirement Funds – Designate Unity as a Beneficiary
- Charitable Gift Annuities
Why Give
We provide flexible, efficient, and tax effective options to ensure your charitable giving achieves the greatest possible impact.
Your professional advisor can help you assess the financial and tax implications of a gift to Unity Foundation. To discuss your giving ideas or learn more about starting your own fund or building funds for your favorite cause or organization, contact our Development Officer, Jamie Miller, at 219-879-0327.
Kay & Jerry Kabelin
Betsy Kabelin Parkison, Kris Kabelin Moore, Diana Kabelin Corley, & Jerry Kabelin
The Kabelin Family: A Legacy of Philanthropy
The Kabelin Family is well-known in La Porte County for their hardware business, but many people may not know about their nearly thirty years of philanthropy though Unity Foundation.
In 1912 Edward W. Kabelin bought interest in the Webber Hardware Company. A couple years later he bought the entire company and renamed it Kabelin Hardware Company. His grandson, Jerry Kabelin, joined the family business in 1962. A U.S. Army veteran, Jerry was the first person in the family to receive a college degree. When Jerry’s father, Russell, became ill, his love for family and La Porte’s lakes drew him home to the business which continued to grow under his leadership.
The Kabelin Family is in its second generation of philanthropy through Unity Foundation. Jerry joined the Unity Foundation Board of Directors in 1996 and served through 2015. His daughter Diana, president of the company from 2003 to 2014, has served on the board for ten years. “I chose to be involved with Unity because I really believe in their mission,” Diana said.
Beyond board service, the Kabelin Family has started three funds at Unity Foundation, each supports the community in a different way.
In 1997, Jerry and his wife Kay started the Kabelin Family Fund to support local causes. As a Donor Advised Fund, they recommend which charitable organizations receive grants from the annual income generated by their fund. Donor Advised Funds offer flexibility to support various causes, make giving easy, and provide an opportunity to involve family members in charitable giving.
The Kabelin Family Scholarship Fund supports working students who wish to further their education beyond high school. Students who work for Kabelin ACE Hardware or children and grandchildren of employees of Kabelin ACE Hardware are eligible to apply for this scholarship. Since 2007 the fund has provided approximately 40 awards to hard-working students.
Presented with a unique opportunity to participate in an impactful match, the family started the Kabelin Family Community Fund in 2014. Community funds enable Unity Foundation to respond to current and future needs and support local organizations through our annual Community “Power for Good” Grant Program. Community funds have a rare opportunity to grow, increasing their impact thanks to Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative. Because the fund was started during a match opportunity, the original donation was immediately tripled, increasing the impact the fund has year after year. During the current match period (GIFT VIII) donations to all of Unity’s unrestricted community funds are again being matched $2 for $1, making now an ideal time to make a charitable gift.
Contact Unity Foundation today to learn how you can leave a legacy of philanthropy by donating or establishing a fund.
Gold Key Society
Gold Key Society members play a “key” role in making La Porte County a better place by helping their clients with charitable interests strengthen our community through philanthropy. Whether it is tax savings, the desire to fund a special cause or the importance of leaving a future legacy, Unity has vehicles to help everyone! You can learn more about charitable giving and leaving a legacy by talking to your professional advisor and visiting uflc.giftlegacy.com.
(Clockwise) Lori Howard & Stephanie Oberlie, Harbour Trust & Investment Management; Kayla Buckmaster, Edward Jones; Alec Rosario, Edward Jones
Educating the Next Generation
Scholarships
Unity Foundation awarded nearly $350,000 in scholarships to 148 students for the 2024-2025 academic year. The recipients are attending 48 colleges and universities across the United States. Since 1992, Unity has awarded approximately $4 million from sixty scholarship funds to help area students advance their education.
Sandra Wood
Sandra Wood completed her PhD through Indiana State University.
Wood with the La Porte Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees (above) and her family (below) following the announcement of her appointment as the new Superintendent.
Sandra Wood: Paying it Forward in La Porte County
Sandra Wood has come full circle in her life and career. A lifelong resident of La Porte County, Wood has been able to make an impact in her hometown community with the help of an investment in her education by Unity Foundation of La Porte County and the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP).
Sandra attended Marquette High School, graduating in 2001. During her senior year,
she learned about an incredible scholarship opportunity. It was the third year that the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship was offered. “I recall it was advertised by our guidance counselors as a full-ride scholarship. I knew it could be a lifechanging opportunity,” explained Wood.
Wood applied, was invited to interview and later learned she received the scholarship. “I can still tell you where I was standing in my living room when the phone call came one evening. It was one of those monumental and truly life-changing moments,” she recalled.
Wood was a first-generation college student. “Had I not had this opportunity,
I don’t know what kind of doors would have opened for me in terms of being able
to pursue a higher-level education,” she explained.
Up until that point, she didn’t know what she was going to do about college because the financial piece was a challenge for her and her family. The LECSP enabled Wood to pursue her baccalaureate degree with full tuition remission at an accredited Indiana college.
Wood studied English and Spanish with a minor in secondary education at St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer. After graduating in 2005, she moved back home to Michigan City. She drew a circle on a map and sent her resume to every school within a 30-minute driving radius.
“In about 48 hours, I had a call back from South Central High School. They had a Spanish teacher who was retiring,” Wood recalled. Sandra interviewed and received a job offer to begin teaching the following August. She taught at South Central for seven years but felt a yearning to do more.
“I got involved with our teacher’s union and became president, so I had a little taste of leadership,” said Wood. “I thought, this role feels comfortable to me.”
Wood continued her education and career path obtaining a master’s degree in education from Indiana Wesleyan University. When she finished her degree, she decided to go back to school to get her principal’s license. She completed the coursework in principal administration at Ball State University. “I was able to accomplish all this without any student debt. This was because I had such an incredible start through the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program.”
At the time she finished her coursework for principal licensure, the principal at South Central High School was retiring.
She served as South Central High School principal for six years. At that time, she thought she had even more to give. She decided to pursue her superintendent’s license. The first part was an education specialist program. She continued two years beyond that, also completing the PhD component through Indiana State University. “I thought, I made it this far, let’s just keep going,” said Wood.
Soon, the superintendent position came open in Westville at MSD of New Durham Township. Wood served in that role for six years. In July 2024, the La Porte Community School Corporation announced Sandra Wood as the new Superintendent.
Supporting the Community
Grant Impact
Through our Power for Good Community Grants, Small Grants for Teachers, Scholarships, and Fund Distributions Unity granted $1,341,389 in 2023.
Leadership La Porte County Celebrates 40 Years of Impact
Leadership La Porte County celebrated 40 years of impact this year. Led by Executive Director Monica Komasinski, the organization aims to inspire, develop, cultivate, and connect emerging and existing leaders to serve their diverse communities. Unity Foundation has been a champion of Leadership La Porte County since Unity’s early days.
The Leadership La Porte County Endowment Fund, held at Unity Foundation, provides annual support to the organization. Robert J. Hiler, Jr. generously donated to this fund after it was established in 1996, and he provided significant support through a bequest upon his passing. Thanks to his contributions and the gifts of many others, Leadership La Porte County will receive this funding annually…forever.
Celebrating La Porte County Teachers
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Day, Unity surprised four local teachers with classroom grants. Members of the public submitted nominations by sharing what makes their favorite teacher special. Of the many nominations received, four were randomly selected. Their schools each received a $250 grant from the Random Acts of Kindness Fund for the teachers to use for items for their classrooms or for creative projects to enhance learning.
Family Advocates
Family Advocates’ mission is to support, educate, and advocate for youth and families in La Porte County. Through a 2023 Power for Good Grant, Unity supported Family Advocates training and certification of the InsideOut Dad™ Pilot Program with the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office. This curriculum is provided to fathers currently incarcerated in the La Porte County Jail, with the end goal of increased parenting skills and family reconnection.
Service League
The Service League of Michigan City is a non-profit all volunteer organization that provides short term loans of durable medical equipment, assists with monthly incontinence supply needs, and partners with community healthcare organizations to promote client independence and enhance quality of life to the residents of La Porte County. The organization received a 2023 Power for Good Grant to update and expand their equipment loan inventory.
Social and Learning Institute
The primary objective of the Social and Learning Institute (SLI) is to provide a physical and emotional environment in which the intellectually disabled adult is allowed to grow personally, socially, and academically at an unhurried pace. SLI provides social and learning experiences that allow individuals to lead more meaningful, independent and creative lives.
In 2023 SLI received a Power for Good Grant to support the Science & Nature Exploration program. This program exposes students to the wonders of their natural world through a partnership with Dunes Learning Center. “Life Under the Microscope” gave students a greater understanding of microscopic life. Using water samples and microscopes, students were able to take a closer look at life that is hidden in plain sight.
Kwanzaa
The African American Empowerment Fund offers a unique opportunity to identify challenges and opportunities to improve the economic and health conditions of the African American people in La Porte County. A grant from the fund provided support to the 2023 Michigan City Kwanzaa celebration.
Building Community
Financials
Unity Foundation manages more than $45 million in assets. We are accredited with Community Foundations National Standards®—the highest standards for philanthropic excellence.
$25M
Grants & Scholarships Awarded Since 1992
400+
Total Funds
$45.6M
Total Assets
A power for good
GIFT VIII
“Triple Your Treasure” Matching Grant Opportunity
Unity Foundation of La Porte County has been awarded an incredible matching opportunity for donors made possible by a $2.25 million grant through the eighth phase of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative. GIFT VIII allows Indiana community foundations to:
- Grow their financial resources to promote long-term viability and sustainability
- Further strengthen their leadership capabilities
- Develop and implement strategic programs, projects, and initiatives that enhance their communities’ quality
of life
The grant enables Unity to match $1,125,000 in gifts made to existing or newly established Community Funds. Unity will match gifts with $2 for every $1
donated through December 31, 2025, or until the match dollars are exhausted, whichever comes first. Community Funds, also known as unrestricted funds,
allow Unity the discretion to make grants that meet needs and opportunities as they evolve and change over time in La Porte County.
Donors wishing to take advantage of this unique opportunity may contribute to an existing community fund (a full list appears
