Opportunity Enterprises

06/03/2026

THANK YOU, Porter County, Indiana!

Because of the incredible generosity of Strack & Van Til and Town & Country customers, cashiers, and team members, Opportunity Enterprises received an amazing $𝟏𝟎,𝟑𝟖𝟗.𝟐𝟓 through the 2026 Checkout Challenge!

Over just two weeks, customers chose to round up their purchases to support individuals with disabilities proving that small change can create a BIG impact. A special thank you to the dedicated cashiers who encouraged customers to give and helped make this campaign a success. Together, you are helping OE create inclusive and equitable opportunities for people of all abilities. Since participating in the Checkout Challenge over the past 10 years, nearly $129,000 has been donated to OE through the generosity of Strack & Van Til and Town & Country customers.

Thank you to everyone who rounded up, gave back, and made a difference. Your generosity helps build a more inclusive Northwest Indiana for all.

Names of people in photo: From L to R:
Taya Bauske, Irene Handley, David Budnik, Neil Samahon – OE President & CEO, Jeff Strack – Strack & Van Til CEO, Cheri Hofferth, Marcia Zeck, and Corrine Duracz.

06/02/2026

Employees of Enterprise from around the whole greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana region recently met at Lakeside to help spruce up the property!

🛥️They first painted the pavilion railings along with the boat dock.

🌲They trimmed bushes and cleared landscaping at the day services building and Markiewicz Center.

🛝They also prepped the new playground for mulch for our campers to play on at Camp Lakeside.

Thank you for all your help!

05/26/2026

Thank you to NIPSCO / NiSource for generously supporting Opportunity Enterprises as a 2026 Strategic Partner! This investment helps OE continue creating opportunities for people with disabilities and supporting programs that bring connection and community to so many lives. We’re also proud to welcome the NIPSCO/NiSource Employee Resource Group as the new sponsor of our Renewed Horizons Client of the Year Award at this year’s Celebration of Achievement Breakfast. Renewed Horizons is OE’s community-based day program designed for older adults and individuals with disabilities who benefit from social engagement, recreation, wellness activities, volunteer opportunities, and meaningful daily experiences in a supportive environment. For the last two years, the NIPSCO/NiSource ERG team spent time with Renewed Horizons clients through their Easter Egg Hunt event, creating a day filled with smiles and genuine connection. Those moments matter, and we are grateful for a partnership that continues to grow in such a meaningful way. Thank you for believing in the people OE serves and for helping create a stronger, more inclusive community.

05/25/2026

🇺🇸Memorial Day 🇺🇸

Land of the free because of the brave. Today, we remember and honor the heroes who gave everything. We are closed today but will reopen tomorrow, 5/26.

05/22/2026

📣Reminder📣

Opportunity Enterprises will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, May 26th.

05/22/2026

We are excited to announce Lucas’ Journey to Success | An Opportunity Enterprises Story is a Silver Telly Award winner! Congratulations to Lucas and Initium Creative!

We’re honored to share that Initium Creative, in collaboration with Opportunity Enterprises, has won a Silver Telly Award for Lucas’ Journey to Success | An Opportunity Enterprises Story! 🏆

It was a privilege to help tell Lucas’ inspiring story and highlight the incredible impact Opportunity Enterprises makes in our community every day.

Huge thanks to Opportunity Enterprises for trusting us with this story—and to Lucas for allowing us to share his journey.

05/19/2026

One of the most meaningful moments of Opportunity Enterprises’ 33rd Annual Gala was sharing Lucas Fisher’s story with our community. Lucas’ journey is a powerful example of what can happen when determination, opportunity, strong job coaching support, and inclusive employers come together. Through his work at Continental, Lucas continues to grow in confidence and independence, supported by his OE job coach and an incredible employment partner committed to inclusion in the workplace. Lucas was also featured on stage alongside Jonathan Kraft, the evening's talented auctioneer, to help kick off this year’s Fund the Need, reminding everyone in the room exactly why this work matters. A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Centier Bank, for helping make the 33rd Annual Gala possible, and to Delta Theta Tau for hosting another unforgettable evening. Because of the generosity of our guests, donors, and auction bidders, this year’s Gala grossed more than $422,000 to help move OE’s mission forward and continue creating opportunities for people with disabilities across our community.

05/18/2026

Some of OE's strong investors quietly show up again and again, and it matters!

Jim Jacobsen, his family, and his State Farm agency recently made a life-changing $10,000 gift to Opportunity Enterprises. Jim, his wife Karen and his business truly love supporting events that involve our clients directly. They are a big sponsor of OE's Halloween party for our clients, they contribute to our Angel Tree each year, they contribute to our agency Pizza Party around the holidays, and every year they make sure our volunteers can be part of the Gala by purchasing a table just for them. That says a lot about who they are and what they value. Jim and his family are the kind of partners every nonprofit hopes for. We’re lucky to have them with us.

05/15/2026

This one means a lot to us! Opportunity Enterprises just earned a Three-Year Accreditation from the
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities ( CARF International)
), the highest level possible.

When CARF evaluators were on-site, they did more than review paperwork and documentation. They talked with staff, met with the people we support, and saw our programs in action. What they found was something we’re proud of, a place where people are treated with respect, services are flexible, and the work is done with care and consistency.

In the CARF report, here’s what stood out:

• A Board that is engaged, accessible, and holds the organization accountable
• Leadership that brings stability and keeps the focus on long-term impact
• Staff who meet people where they are and adjust support to fit their goals
• Individuals served who shared that they feel respected, heard, and supported
• A commitment to improving by using data, feedback, and experience to keep getting better

This recognition belongs to the people who make OE what it is every day!

05/12/2026

Some partnerships just become part of who you are, and that’s exactly what Chester, Inc. has been for Opportunity Enterprises.

The Peuquet Family, owners of Chester, Inc., have been alongside OE for decades. Steady. Generous. Genuinely invested in the people we serve. What’s always stood out is how personal their giving is. Their philanthropy for OE is something the whole family believes in. You see it in their continued commitment as an Opportunity Champion Annual Sponsor, and you feel it in the way they show up for our community.
Two members of the family even personally fund scholarships for Camp Lakeside. They believe every child should have opportunities to experience summer camp and because of them, more kids do. That kind of care sticks with you.

We’re incredibly thankful for Chester, Inc. and the Peuquet family and the role they play in shaping OE.