Charitable organizations have a profound impact on the well-being and vitality of a community. However, their survival and success depend on the support given by each of us. FLD Architects and our staff support the following organizations in hopes of improving the quality of life within our communities.
We contribute time, talent, and resources to organizations that promote education, creativity, and wellness throughout Northwest Indiana.
Portage Township YMCA
The mission of the Portage Township YMCA is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy mind, body, and spirit for all. Our support helps to ensure that the Y can serve everyone and fuel programs that promote youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility to impact lives throughout the Portage community. Falk Liggett Design’s Jeff Liggett is a member of the Board of Directors and Chairperson of the Facilities Committee for this organization.
Food Bank of Northwest Indiana
The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana has been leading the Region’s fight against hunger since 1982 and distributes more than 4.5 million meals each year to hungry kids, adults and seniors across Lake and Porter counties. Each month the Food Bank serves more than 23,000 individuals through its 100+ partner agencies and programs like Mobile Marketplace, Commodity Supplemental Food Program for seniors and the BackPack Program. Falk Liggett Design provided design services for their new $4 million, 72,000 sqft. facility as part of their “Fighting Hunger, Building Hope Capital Campaign.”
Opportunity Enterprises
Opportunity Enterprises is a premier agency serving nearly 1,000 adults with physical and developmental disabilities in Northwest Indiana. They provide services focused on goals and choices through a variety of employment options, residential support, curricular activities, and enrichment programs like art and assistive technology. Working to maximize self-sufficiency and enrich the quality of life for individuals with disabilities, they allow people to live, learn, and grow to their fullest potential.
Portage Student Builders
Portage Student Builders, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation that handles the fiscal responsibility for the Portage Township High School Career and Technical Education program Construction Technology Class. The class, consisting of Juniors and Seniors, builds a new house every two years on one of several lots that the corporation owns in a Portage subdivision. Students learn the building construction industry by working on the house. Once each house is completed, it is offered for sale to the public. The sale proceeds go into an account overseen by a volunteer advisory board that includes FLD Architect’s Scott Falk, a City of Portage Building Inspector, local contractors, Realtor and a school administrator. The corporation takes the risk and reinvests the sale proceeds into the construction of the next house.
Portage BackPack Program
The Portage BackPack Program provides weekend meals to over 200 children across all Portage Township Schools. The BackPack Program is designed to meet the needs of hungry children at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations. Backpacks are filled with food that children can take home on the weekends. The food is child-friendly, nonperishable and easily consumed. The backpacks are discreetly distributed to children on the last day before the weekend or holiday vacation.
Portage Township Education Foundation
The Portage Township Education Foundation is a non-profit organization comprised of dedicated volunteers from throughout the Portage community. The Foundation engages the community in fund raising efforts supporting grant programs that directly impact students attending Portage Township Schools and has awarded more than $150,000 in grants to its teachers for their innovative learning projects resulting in outstanding student achievement.