This fund was established to support to community grant-making in Lake County, Indiana. Gifts to this fund allow Legacy Foundation’s staff and Grants Committee to evaluate aspects of community well being in areas of arts and culture, economic development, education, environment, health and human services, neighborhood revitalization and more. Your gift is highly flexible and available to meet the breadth of community needs—including future needs that may not yet be imagined.

This fund was established to support to community grant-making in Lake County, Indiana. Gifts to this fund allow Legacy Foundation’s staff and Grants Committee to evaluate aspects of community well being in areas of arts and culture, economic development, education, environment, health and human services, neighborhood revitalization and more. Your gift is highly flexible and available to meet the breadth of community needs—including future needs that may not yet be imagined.

Dr. Amy Han and her family pledged to donate to the Lake County Forever fundraising campaign when they learned their donation would be tripled, thanks to a grant from the Lilly Endowment, and because they trust the Legacy Foundation, which is driving the campaign.

For every dollar donated to the Lake County Forever campaign, the Lilly Endowment will donate an additional $2. That means every donation is tripled.

For Dr. Han and her family, the opportunity to impact more lives in Lake County, along with the ability to spread their donation across several years, made donating to the fund more attractive. “Anybody can do this if they take advantage of multiple years,” Dr. Han said. “And, what the Lilly Endowment has done for us makes it easier and even more impactful.”

Dr. Han, a former Legacy Foundation board member, said another reason her family chose the Lake County Forever was their strong feelings for the Legacy Foundation. “My family and I try to help the community whenever we can. We know we can trust the Legacy Foundation to use all of the donations they receive in the best way they can,” Dr. Han said. “And, because the donations are going to unrestricted funds, we know our contributions over the next several years will help more people with different needs.” Dr. Han said she’s been recommending the Lake County Forever campaign to friends, family members, and community groups, encouraging them to also take advantage of the Lilly Foundation’s commitment to triple every donation.

Indalecio Ruiz came to this country from Mexico when he was 16 years old, dreaming of a better life. Shortly after meeting his wife, Celia Cantu, they married and raised 11 children in Chicago before moving to Northwest Indiana. The two worked hard their entire lives, teaching their children that anything can be done through hard work and determination. Creating a legacy of more than 80 souls who have become business owners, educators, and entrepreneurs – above all, American citizens.

America is a nation of immigrants, descendants of those who have come from somewhere else and made the land great. As it says on the Statue of Liberty, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” The legacy of Indalecio Ruiz is the American dream personified.

This fund supports nonprofit organizations providing services to Lake County, Indiana families and individuals in the areas of arts and culture, education, environment and animal welfare, health, and other ever-changing community needs.

St. John native Fred Ruiz poses with his wife, Verna, their grandson, Ethan, and their great granddaughter Mia. When he donated to the Legacy Foundation’s Lake County Forever campaign, Fred Ruiz created a special fund in memory of his parents, Indalecio and Celia Ruiz, who often struggled to raise their 11 children.

“It was a hardscrabble existence, and we sometimes went to governmental organizations to help us make ends meet,” remembered Fred, who later went on to build the hugely successful Oak Partners financial services firm. “My parents really  didn’t receive a lot of help in raising us, but all of us succeeded and did very well.” Fred and Verna took advantage of a matching gift from Lilly Endowment Inc. and tripled the amount of their donation to start the fund in his parents’ names to help people in need.

“We really wanted to help people in need and remember my parents,” Fred said. “I definitely encourage my friends to consider donating, for whatever motivations the may have.”

This fund was established to support to community grant-making in Lake County, Indiana. Gifts to this fund allow Legacy Foundation’s staff and Grants Committee to evaluate aspects of community well being in areas of arts and culture, economic development, education, environment, health and human services, neighborhood revitalization and more. Your gift is highly flexible and available to meet the breadth of community needs—including future needs that may not yet be imagined.