A Portage Life in The Spotlight: Megan Minter

A Portage Life in The Spotlight: Megan Minter

As a lifelong resident of Valparaiso, Megan Minter has always worked to make Northwest Indiana better. Working as the chief financial officer of Payne Financial Solutions in Valparaiso, her work as an insurance agent has impacted the lives of many region residents.

But one of Minter's most important roles started in 2010 when longtime friend, Mike and Mary Martinez, asked her to help with a golf outing. The outing was an event for Hannah’s Hope, a charity created by Mike and Mary for their daughter Hannah who was born with severe brain damage caused by a possible prenatal stroke. Minter's connection to the Martinez’s was a close one and so she was more than ready to jump in to help.

“I am good friends with Mike and Mary and Hannah, who was not only just their daughter, but like a niece to me” said Minter.

A year after that initial golf outing, Minter was elected to the vice president position of the Hannah’s Hope organization, a position she still fills to this day. For Minter, a day in the life of volunteering requires a full commitment from everyone involved. Minter explained there's five board members for Hannah's Hope, and a committee for each event.

"My husband Tim, my daughter Vivian, and I are looking forward to spending family time at the Hannah’ s Hope playground, and we go to each and every event and do whatever is needed to be done that day,” she said.

But all that work is worth it for the impact she sees on those helped by Hannah’s Hope over the years.

“We’ve met so many new people, and just getting to be able to help families purchasing medical equipment for their kids and the little thank you cards and pictures we get," Minter said. "And our playground we built last year, that’s been the biggest thing we’ve done, and it’s just phenomenal.”

The latest event Minter is working on is the July 14th Golf outing at the Brassie Golf Club.

“The upcoming golf outing is my main event that I’m working on with Mike Martinez, so I’m getting sponsorship dollars and fundraising along with getting golfers," she said. "I’m there all day, we get there at 6 a.m. to put up the fundraising signs, and we’re there till 8:30 at night cleaning up.”

If you’re interested in participating in the golf event or are interested in how you can help with Hannah’s Hope you can find more information at their website: http://www.hannahshope.org/index.php.