Porter County Community Foundation President Barb Young presented a $500 check to the Portage Township Schools Backpack Program at the Portage Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Celebration last Saturday. The gift was presented in honor of Foundation Community Resource Director Carol Costakis who was named 2015 Volunteer of the Year by the Chamber.
“Carol has done a wonderful job helping us connect with the Portage community,” said Foundation President Barb Young. “Her work is an extension of our mission to help build a strong Porter County.” The Foundation chose to support the backpack program because is it also supported by the Chamber.
Costakis, who is the current Portage Chamber Vice President, has served on the Portage Chamber Board for five years. As part of the Executive Committee, she has spent the past year helping with the creation of a strategic plan for the Chamber and the selection of the new Executive Director, Lou Gagliardi. Costakis has served on a variety of committees throughout her tenure with the Chamber.