Purdue recognizes Indiana organizations with award

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Four Indiana organizations are recognized with the 14th annual Inspiring Families and Building Communities Award, which was given by Purdue University's College of Health and Human Sciences.

The award honors four organizations that have directly impacted a community and improved the well-being of Indiana families. The winning organizations are Westville Little School of La Porte County, LaGrange County Council on aging, Hendricks Regional Health Foundation and Sheltering Wings. The winners will receive a certification of recognition and a cash award.

Westville Little School of La Porte County is a collaborative project between Dunebrook, Purdue University North Central and Westville Schools. The three organizations came together to establish a preschool in the small town of Westville, where many children were missing out on the benefits of early education because their town did not have a preschool. The school strives to promote early childhood development and parent involvement in education. It offers preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds to learn the skills necessary for kindergarten. The preschoolers develop communication skills, the ability to distinguish between letters and numbers, and to write and recognize their own name. The program bolsters parent involvement through family nights and field trips. The program aims to instill academic success for students and parents both at home and in the classroom.

LaGrange County Council on Aging's Aging in Place Ramp Program. In 2007, the LaGrange County Council on Aging established a program to provide or assist senior citizens and individuals with disabilities an opportunity to have the use of a wheelchair ramp at their home. The program has provided more than 26 wooden ramps to community members and is looking to provide new lightweight aluminum ramps. The programs will provide and install a wheelchair ramp for low-income seniors or those with disabilities, to help seniors and those with disabilities remain in their homes.

Hendricks Regional Health Foundation's Little Angels Ride, a motorcycle ride that raises funds for the Infant Bereavement Program at Hendricks Regional Health. The Little Angels Ride was founded by Mandie and Jerry Bergman as a way to honor the memory of their twins. The ride now helps bring comfort to other grieving families who have lost children due to miscarriage, stillborn or infant death. Proceeds from the ride help with burial costs, memorials, remembrance items and emotional support of the families.

Sheltering Wings of Hendricks County is an emergency crisis intervention program that has been assisting more than 13,000 individuals and families who suffer from domestic violence since it opened in 2002. The program offers a 24-hour safe haven for women and their children who are victims of domestic violence. Sheltering Wings, also helps victims build stable independent lives through a case management program, crisis intervention, positive support and education in healthy relationships. The organization strives to break the cycle of domestic violence by educating the community. 

Writer: Jennifer Jackson, jacks152@purdue.edu

Source: Denise M. Buhrmester, director of communications in the College of Health and Human Sciences, 765-496-3663, mailto:dmbuhrmester@purdue.edu