Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Awards Night at Woodland Park

The Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce held its annual Holiday Banquet and Awards Ceremony Saturday night. Many from the business community and influential people in Portage packed into Woodland Park for a night of laughs, tears and a good time.

The night started off with dinner accompanied by music provided by the Portage High School Orchestra as many business leaders from around the community came together to honor this year's award winners. Porter-Starke Services was awarded the Community Improvement Award as well as the New Construction Award. Holladay Properties Inc. and Graycor Companies were also awarded a new construction award.

The Quality of Life and Improvement Award went to Real Life Community Church.

“Several hundred Portage children would be disappointed to learn that their names were not picked from the Angel Tree. I could go on and on but let’s take into consideration that they do quarterly blood drives for the American Red Cross. They support the Portage Food Pantry. They provide financial assistance for NIPSCO, heat and gas to families,” Awards committee member Dave Kasarda said of Real Life Community Church.

One award brought tears to the eyes of the recipient last night. Amanda Alaniz, the Dean of Students at Fegely Middle School, was awarded the Educator of the Year Award. Willowcreek Principal Michelle Stewart presented Alaniz the award and touched on her tireless efforts to better education and better the lives of her students.

Also honored was the Portage Township School’s Food Service Director Jan Black, who orchestrated the district's USDA- supported summer food program that provided over 30,000 meals to underprivileged Portage students that were unable to receive food during the summer months when school was out. Twelve different sites around Portage Township passed out free meals to students and allowed their parents to eat a meal as well for $2.25 per meal. Black said they are looking for more sites next year, and anyone interested should contact her at her office in the school system’s administration buildings.

Finally, Ken Lorenz was awarded the Outstanding Public Citizen Award.

“As I look at the names of the previous winners of this award, our nominee is a outstanding public citizen and encompasses all of the qualities of the previous winners,” Chamber Executive Director Terry Hufford said, “I am honored to be presenting this award, he is committed to serving his community.”

The night concluded with entertainment and a good time with friends of Portage celebrating our great city and all the great work the Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce does for the City of Portage.

Click here for more photos from the night!