Stepping Up For Stepping Stone

The Stardust Event Center at The Blue Chip Casino housed the 2nd annual Wines of NWI on Friday evening. The event is a wine versus beer tasting in which all of the proceeds go to benefit the Stepping Stone Shelter for Women, Inc.

Stepping Stone Shelter for Women, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency shelter and transitional housing to those who are victims of domestic violence in the La Porte County area. It is an extension of a Citizen's Advisory Committee that was formed in 1982 at the request of the Swanson Center, which is La Porte County's Comprehensive Mental Health Program.

“This is a fundraiser for the shelter. We have multiple sponsors for the event and the proceeds go to the organization,' Jepsen said. “With the reduction in grants that organizations have been receiving, this has been a great way to boost funds and put it into operations for the facility. We have a shelter and a transitional housing unit and we house women and children...We decided to have our event at the Blue Chip Casino because they are very supportive of our organization.”

There were 15 stations that lined the perimeter of the event center and each station had different varieties of wine and beer. Guests had the opportunity to pair their beverages with hot or cold appetizers that were created by the kitchen staff of the Blue Chip and available at the stations. There was a silent auction and costume contest, and The band "The Currents" reunited just for this benefit. They played great cover songs that got many guests dancing and singing like no one was watching.

Jessica Jepsen, President of the Board of Directors for Stepping Stone, was at the event with the rest of the board members and staff to help raise awareness for the organization's cause.

“This is our biggest annual fundraiser...and the purpose it to raise awareness of domestic violence against women and to show the options that they have in La Porte County through the emergency shelter and the transitional housing that we have,” Carla Kanney, Vice President/Secretary of the Board of Directors said. “It is such a cause near and dear to everyone's heart. There is just great camaraderie, and not just for our nonprofit, but for other nonprofits that are here tonight because we know that we are all serving the community.”

And the night went off without a hitch. The food and drinks were great, the music and conversation were wonderful, and the cause was worthwhile. Next year should be even better for Stepping Stone Shelter for Women, Inc.

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Sponsors for the event: Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa; Great Lakes District Council, Atlantic Coast District, Port of Indiana; NIPSCO; Horizon Bank; Oak Partners, Inc.; TIKIS Business Consulting; IU Health La Porte Hospital; Capenter's Local 1485; Swanson Center.