Recognition for Child Safety Advocacy
Marissa Adcock, Injury Prevention Coordinator at Franciscan Health Trauma Services Department, received the Child Safety Advocacy Award for her contributions to child safety. Honored at the Safe Kids Indiana Automotive Safety Program in Indianapolis, Adcock plays a crucial role in ensuring children’s safety through effective management of child safety seat inspection events and training initiatives in Northern Indiana.
In her role, Adcock supervises multiple child safety seat inspection sites. Her efforts span various counties, including Crown Point, Starke/Pulaski, LaPorte, Porter, and Elkhart. She provides extensive support to child seat passenger training events in Michigan City and Hammond, collaborating with community partners to enhance safety protocols.
Launch of Community Impact Grant Program
United Way Northwest Indiana has introduced the 2026 Community Impact Grant Program. This initiative focuses on enhancing the lives of working families within Lake, Porter, Jasper, Newton, and Starke counties. The program offers grants between $5,000 and $150,000 to nonprofit organizations. Key focus areas include financial stability, youth opportunity, healthy community, and community resilience.
Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations offering direct services in United Way Northwest Indiana’s territory. Applications are open until July 31, with funding decisions expected by September 30, followed by the commencement of distributions in October. Interested parties can email [email protected] or visit www.unitedwaynwi.org/grants for further details.
Lake County Fair Seeks Maintenance Staff
The Lake County Fair is hiring for its maintenance team to assist with fair preparations and activities from mid-July to August. Tasks include setup, tear down, and operational duties throughout the fair, held from August 7-16 at the fairgrounds in Crown Point, located at 889 S. Court St.
Originally established in 1852 by the Lake County Agricultural Society, the fair has grown into one of Indiana’s most significant county fairs. Interested individuals can find application details at www.lakecofaircp.com/employment/volunteer.
Free Safe Kids Day Event in LaPorte
Children and families are encouraged to attend the free Safe Kids Day event on July 10. Hosted by the LaPorte County Family Resource Center at 1232 W. Indiana 2 in La Porte, the event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It promises a range of exciting activities and educational booths focusing on child safety, health, and wellness.
The event features a free meal for families, musical entertainment by a live DJ, engaging safety demonstrations, door prizes, opportunities to meet local heroes, and additional surprises. Safe Kids Day is a collaborative effort by Safe Kids Northwest Indiana, various local partners, Franciscan Health Crown Point and Trauma Services, and Geminus Regional Care Group.
Enhancing Voter Integrity in Lake County
Kelley DePirro and Lori O’Dea of the Lake County Board of Elections and Voter Registration have completed the Indiana Certificate in Election Administration, Technology, and Security program. This program aims to bolster election integrity and build leadership through comprehensive education in areas such as election law, cybersecurity, and operational best practices.
In addition to completing the program, DePirro received national acclaim with an honorable mention for her “Proactive Absentee Ballot Error Prevention Initiative” at the 2025 Clearinghouse Awards, managed by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. These awards recognize innovative practices in election administration by state and local election offices.