Behind every piece of great news, there’s an even greater person.
When GreatNews.Life (GNL) began, focusing on just the good news happening in the Region was seen as something that couldn’t be sustained, and it wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the many people always working to make Northwest Indiana a better place. That’s why, in 2012, GNL hosted its first annual Good Life Awards ceremony to recognize the many hardworking individuals who make our job easier.
Since the first Good Life Awards, GNL has recognized 48 Region residents that include non-profit, city, and community leaders, legendary Lifers, and beacons of good that have connected with our team and our mission.
Take a look at all of our previous winners and how they’ve helped shape a better, brighter future for Northwest Indiana!
Good Life Awards – A Night to Celebrate Crazy Ideas and Good People
https://valpo.life/article/good-life-awards-celebrate-crazy-ideas-good-people/
Soon after we launched, our founder, Chris Mahlmann, wondered in a blog post if it was a crazy idea to have an award just for Good People. Fast forward three years and through countless other crazy ideas, GNL hosted its first Good Life Awards party, which honored five individuals who have made such a positive impact on the world around them and on the LIFE mission. The proceeds from the first Good Life Awards went to the Valparaiso Schools Foundation and the Porter County Career and Technical Center. Winners included Jon Groth, Olga Velazquez, Jonathan Nalli, Ivan Bodensteiner, and Cathy Brown Brown.
The Second Annual Good LIFE Awards: Positively Amazing
https://nwi.life/article/the-second-annual-good-life-awards-positively-amazing/
Have you ever had an experience that kept a smile on your face and warmth in your heart from beginning to end? That was what everyone at the Second Annual Good Life Awards felt the entire time during the event. Celebrating good things will do that to a person. Proceeds from the second Good Life Awards went to the Portage YMCA and the La Porte County United Way. Winners included Blair Milo, Donna Flanagin, Mary Koselke, Nancy Simpson, Tom Steindler Jr., and Dr. Tom Cavanaugh Jr.
3rd Annual Good Life Awards Celebrates Good, Rewards Nonprofits
https://nwi.life/article/3rd-annual-good-life-awards-celebrates-good-rewards-nonprofits/
GNL takes pride in providing good news to the community with the help of hardworking individuals behind the organizations and events that make this community unique. To celebrate the individuals in the community who excel in their efforts to provide great events and service to the public, GNL held the third annual Good Life Awards. People from various companies and organizations gathered together to celebrate the "Good Life" that is well-represented in our communities of Northwest Indiana. Proceeds from the third Good Life Awards went to Positive Approach to Teen Health and the La Porte County Family YMCA. Winners included Brett Fuller, Dave Kasarda, Darlene Cohn, Dave Sisk, Bert Cook, and Loretta Finnegan.
2015 Good Life Awards Brought Recognition and Applause to NWI’s Most Positive People
Good vibes were all around as the fourth annual Good Life Awards spent a few hours giving special recognition to some special people from all over Northwest Indiana. Six Good Life Awards were given out to those who went above and beyond their initial call of duty to spread Idea in Motion Media’s mission of spreading and sharing positive news and stories across Northwest Indiana. Proceeds from the fourth Good Life Awards benefited the Lake Area United Way, United Way of Porter County and United Way of La Porte County. Winners included Heather Ennis, Cindy Berchem, Celina Weatherwax, Jack Hines, Paul Schreiner, and Jenny Craig-Brown.
Ideas in Motion Media Celebrates the Region at 5th Annual Good Life Awards, Honors Community Organizations with #GoodLifePitch:
GNL held the fifth annual Good Life Awards at the Blue Chip Casino to much fanfare and excitement from local non-profits, supporting sponsors and those who have helped propel the positive news websites and social media networks, Valpo.Life, Portage.Life, LaPorteCounty.Life and NWI.Life, to amazing heights over the last five years. Proceeds from the fifth annual Good Life Awards went to Worthy Women Recovery Home, Frontline Foundations, and Hannah’s Hope. Winners included Sue Reed, Jeanne Sommer, Marty Corley, Bob Phelps, Jan Wilson, and Anna Hanson.
IIMM Presents the 6th Annual Good Life Awards:
https://nwi.life/article/iimm-presents-the-6th-annual-good-life-awards/
Every year for the past five years, GNL has held its annual Good Life Awards, with this year being the sixth time it has honored people and nonprofits in the local communities that have gone above and beyond the call of duty and ventured into a passionate benevolence. This year, besides the six winners of the Good Life Awards, there was also a voting contest to choose three of the 14 nonprofits in attendance to receive a year’s worth of content marketing from the Life sites to help get their messages out and help more people. The winning non-profits included Hannah’s Hope, Habitat for Humanity, and Porter County CASA. Award recipients included Ian Bowen, Patricia Bengert, Brian Snedecor, Bill Hanna, Erin Parker, and Stephanie Swearington.
IIMM Presents the 7th Annual Good Life Awards:
https://nwi.life/article/the-7th-annual-good-life-awards/
Proving once again that there is certainly no shortage of good news in Northwest Indiana, GNL was thrilled to present its seventh annual Good Life Awards event, honoring those individuals and non-profit organizations who work tirelessly year-round to make the Northwest Indiana region a better place to work, play, and live. In addition to the individual honorees three non-profits were chosen to receive a full year-long marketing campaign on the Life networks to drive their message and campaign. Winning non-profits included Porter County CASA, Hannah’s Hope, and Girls on the Run Northwest Indiana. Award recipients included Ken Elwood, Jerry Davich, Kevin Kosek, Kyle Granat, Thomas McDermott Jr., and John Seibert.
Good Life Awards returns to cheers and tears at 8th annual ceremony
With over 100 attendees filling out the La Porte Civic Auditorium this Thursday, November 30, GreatNews.Life’s Good Life Awards returned in style after a five year hiatus. The awards ceremony honoring the people working tirelessly to keep the Region great took place over a champagne breakfast that kept things light and jovial.
The Good Life Awards began as an extension of GreatNews.Life’s mission of celebrating the good things happening in Northwest Indiana. This year’s class of inductees included Gena DeMuth, interim Chief Nursing Officer for Northwest Health - Porter, New Media Journalist for GreatNews.Life; Dave Uran, President and CEO of the South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority; Gene Crusie, CEO of Surf Internet; Craig Harrell, Chief Marketing Officer of Center for Hospice Care; Mary Fetsch, Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications at Community Healthcare System; and Tom Dermody, Mayor of the City of La Porte.
These community leaders are just a few of the many people in the Region working everyday to make Northwest Indiana the best place to be. As great news continues to happen, GNL is going to be there to recognize the people behind it.
The next Good Life Awards is coming up soon! This year's event will be held on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at Uptown Social in Michigan City. Check out the Eventbrite page here to purchase tickets, and be sure to visit the Facebook event here to learn more about what to expect at this can't miss event!
