Lake County Forever
At Legacy Foundation, our work is grounded in a simple yet powerful vision: Create an equitable Lake County where all people thrive.
As the community foundation serving all of Lake County’s 19 cities and towns and 500,000 residents, we believe in the lasting strength of this place — its people, its unique assets, and its potential.
The theme of this year’s annual report, Lake County Forever, reflects our long-term commitment to building a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient community now and for future generations. This report highlights the stories, data, and impact behind the work we’ve done — together.
Kelly Anoe
President & CEO
John Freyek
Chair & Board of Directors
Welcome
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we reflect on 2024, we are filled with gratitude for the extraordinary generosity and resilience that define Lake County, Indiana. This past year marked a time of unprecedented growth for Legacy Foundation, and together, we achieved transformational change across our community. Through your generosity — and a matching gift from Lilly Endowment Inc. — we raised over $17 million to strengthen Lake County. This achievement positions us to meet emerging needs and seize new opportunities for years to come.
Because of your commitment we:
The impact of your support cannot be overstated. Each gift, conversation, and partnership advances our collective vision for a more connected, vibrant Lake County. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Legacy Foundation staff, and the many lives touched by your generosity, thank you.
Together, we are building a brighter future — one where every resident has the opportunity to thrive, and every community has the tools to succeed. We look forward to the journey ahead and the continued transformation we will create, together.
Thank you!
Legacy Foundation is the community foundation for Lake County, Indiana
Impact by the Numbers
Lake County Forever Campaign
Legacy Foundation’s largest effort to raise funds for community grantmaking.
Legacy Foundation raised over $1.95 million from the community, and Lilly Endowment Inc. provided a $2-for-$1 match. All the donations, plus the match, will add $5.85 million to Legacy Foundation’s discretionary funds so we can act strategically to seize new opportunities that benefit the communities where we live, work, and play.
Generous support from donors today is a permanent investment in the success of the 19 municipalities and 500,000+ residents we serve in Lake County.
As the needs of Lake County change, the donations made to our Lake County Forever Campaign will provide the resources for nonprofit organizations and community leaders to work together to ensure we can all rise.
Donor
Terri Weems
A first-time donor inspired by Lilly Endowment’s powerful matching pledge to the Legacy Foundation.
When author and life coach Terri Weems donated to the Legacy Foundation’s Lake County Forever campaign, it was her first time contributing to such a fundraising effort. During the campaign Lilly Endowment Inc. matched $2 for every dollar donated to Lake County Forever, which meant every dollar donated to the campaign would be tripled in value. Terri also sang the praises of the Legacy Foundation for all the educational programs, grants and support the Foundation provides to nonprofits throughout the county.
Terri is the executive director of a Merrillville, Indiana-based nonprofit organization.
Terri’s first experience with Legacy Foundation began when she was department head in Merrillville town government. Terri attends Foundation programs and events and has sought advice and guidance from Legacy team members on several topics, such as grant writing, marketing, and board member development.
Planning a Future Gift
Legacy Society
Honoring donors committed to charitable planned giving
The Legacy Society recognizes individuals who have expressed their commitment to charitable giving by naming Legacy Foundation as the beneficiary of a planned gift. Gifts may include a bequest and/or charitable income gifts, such as gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, or gifts of life insurance or retirement plan assets.
Funding & Opportunities
Legacy Foundation’s Women in Philanthropy Group
A network of dedicated philanthropists who strive to enhance the lives of women and children throughout Lake County, Indiana.
WIP creates a sustainable source of funding and opportunities for women and children in Lake County to fully participate and thrive in their communities. The ideas and investments of each member strengthen the group’s ability to make strategic, impactful grants to local nonprofits.
With the grant, the community
foundations will launch “NWI Thrive”.
NWI Thrive is a 5-year project committed to ensuring each county’s residents have access to the amenities Northwest Indiana offers: Indiana Dunes National Park, South Shore Line’s new Double Track, and the development of the Marquette Greenway trail. Proposed projects across NWI include: Improved signage to trailheads, improved trail maintenance, development of new trails, and educational campaigns and programs within the Indiana Dunes National Park.
Proposed projects include:
Improved signage to trailheads, improved trail maintenance, development of new trails, and educational campaigns and programs within the Indiana Dunes National Park.
Trail connections and improvements will ensure Marquette Greenway continuity through the region and prioritize connections within communities.
Discover Hubs will welcome travelers and include public art, interpretive signage, information kiosks, educational opportunities, and wayfinding to local attractions and businesses. Trailheads will connect transit hubs to neighboring trail networks, reinforcing a well-connected lakefront, and wayfinding signage will connect communities with natural and cultural landmarks.
NWI Thrive incorporates educational opportunities throughout all projects. With a focus on increasing local stewardship of the region’s local wildlife and habitats, our placemaking efforts support outcomes that will further protect Northwest Indiana’s natural areas and resources.
The community foundations will work with the following organizations to implement project activities:
County and municipal officials, National Parks Service (NPS), Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC), NWI Forum, Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), Regional Development Authority (RDA), Save the Dunes, Dunes Learning Center, and Calumet Heritage Area Partnership.
LCAC began in 1965 as a way for interested residents to gather over lunch, listen to speakers, and discuss major social, economic, and political issues impacting Lake County. With meaningful dialogue at the core, Legacy Foundation made the decision to update LCAC from the Lake County Advancement Committee to Lake County Advancement Conversations. This year LCAC heard about the amazing natural resources in Lake County’s backyard, the growth of a family’s business, and new advances in tech.
2024 Topic Sessions
3 Goals
of LCAC
2024 Program Survey
In the fall, LCAC asked for feedback and ideas. Over 100 people participated in the survey! Legacy Foundation will use data collected to guide future programming.
Your favorite things about LCAC!
Imagine, Connect, Plan, and Act
The Cedar Lake Community Heart & Soul initiative contains four phases. The first phase focused on imagining and building a volunteer team, a group made up of 25 Cedar Lake residents. Legacy Foundation is honored to partner with Community Heart & Soul, a nonprofit organization, to bring the program to Lake County and to support Cedar Lake as the first Heart & Soul Community in the State of Indiana.
Legacy Learning Lab offers learning opportunities for both nonprofit staff and Lake County residents!
Nonprofit Organizations
Legacy Learning Lab empowers nonprofit staff and board members through skill-building to improve service delivery, enhance governance, and build financial sustainability.
Lake County Residents
Learning Lab provides residents with opportunities to enhance their leadership and advocacy skills to create positive change in their community.
Legacy Foundation hosted 21 Learning Lab events.
The events included opportunities for peer networking, organizational capacity building, and leadership development.
TradeWinds is helping feed Lake County with a community food pantry launched in 2022.
A regular partner of TradeWinds, Legacy Foundation has supported the pantry with a matching grant campaign.
In Northwest Indiana, an estimated 100,000 people are food insecure, which means they lack access to enough good, nutritious food for them and their families. That means one in six individuals in the Region do not know where their next meal will come from.
Located in Merrillville, the Community Pantry feeds 500 to 700 individuals in Lake County alone on the last Thursday of every month, but the need has grown enough for TradeWinds to consider adding another day each month. Grants from Legacy Foundation will go towards buying food, transporting food to the pantry and pantry supplies, Lisa said.
Legacy Foundation and TradeWinds have partnered in other ways. In recent years, Legacy Foundation helped fund a sensory room at the U.S. Steel Yard, home of the Gary SouthShore RailCats and supported the community employment program for individuals with disabilities.
BBB4E has served the
community for 23 years.
The fund has created several innovative arts education programs including Midwest Youth Music and the Book Brigade. Through the Midwest Youth Choir, Band, and Orchestra, thousands of students ages 5-18 across NWI have engaged in a variety of unique performance opportunities.
The Book Brigade has distributed over 23,000 free books to families in and around Hammond. BBB4E is committed to creating opportunities for students to experience the mental and social benefits of art.
Scholarship Recipient
Hannah Loredo
Latinos Count Scholarship Recipient
Hannah is a student at Rice University in Houston, TX, studying cellular biology and linguistics. Her dream after undergraduate studies is to go to medical school to become an oncologist to give patients a better outcome with less harmful treatments.
“I’m looking forward to doing research at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and — considering that I want to be an oncologist — the proximity of this center to my campus will allow me to get a head start on my future career and also help me gain tools I will need to apply to medical school,” said Hannah.
When she’s not studying, Hannah enjoys playing intramural volleyball, working at the campus coffee shop, and gardening with the school’s holistic garden that grows produce for the dining halls.
Scholarship Recipient
Steven Valdez
Recipient of the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, Van Til/Bellamy Salute to Education Scholarship
Steven is studying Construction Engineering & Management Technology at Purdue University Northwest. His goal is to use his education to support and uplift his family.
“Graduating from college will be a significant milestone, not just for me, but for my entire family. Your support plays a crucial role in this journey, and I am committed to making the most of this opportunity.”
The Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, Van Til/Bellamy Salute to Education Scholarship supports students from Lake County schools who are currently enrolled in a two or four-year college or university.
