On the evening of May 23, Regional Care Group hosted its third annual Gala at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville. This year's event, entitled “Golden Jubilee: Louisiana Street Style,” celebrated Regional Care Group’s 50 years of providing wrap-around mental, social and residential services to residents of Northwest Indiana. Regional Care Group comprises Geminus Corporation, Lake Park Residential Care, and Regional Health Systems. Among the attendees were community leaders, elected officials, and business professionals from throughout the Region.
The evening’s theme was a nod to Louisiana Street, the location of Regional Care Group’s Merrillville headquarters. The event sponsors included Centier Bank, Just A Dash Food Service Group, Vavrek Architects, Purdue University Northwest, CoAction, and the Pangere Corporation. Horseshoe Casino Hammond, Starbucks, the Albanese Candy Factory, and Cooper’s Hawk were among the many businesses that supplied prizes for the Gala’s silent auction. The attendees couldn’t resist dancing along to the New Orleans-style music of the Four Star Brass Band or the tunes offered up by DJ Darknite.
Nicholas Neal, vice president of community services for Geminus and the evening’s master of ceremonies, considered the Golden Jubilee Gala to be a particularly special occasion for several reasons.
“We're not just celebrating an anniversary here tonight,” Neal said. “We're honoring the legacy of this organization. Regional Care Group has provided life-saving services, breaking stigmas about mental health, and meeting people where they are for 50 years. That’s 50 years of transforming lives right here in Northwest Indiana. The theme of tonight’s event is a tribute to the vibrant, welcoming spirit that defines our work and is the very essence of Regional Care Group.”
Adam Krupp, director of the Indiana Department of Child Services, described how he encountered and overcame mental health issues, proclaiming himself to be a living testament to the fact that recovery from mental health issues is possible. He warned against the dangers of holding oneself to an impossibly high standard of perfection and stressed the importance of reaching out for help when it’s needed.
During his remarks, Indiana First Congressional District Representative Frank Mrvan lauded the work that Regional Care Group has done for countless individuals throughout the Region.
“I would like to thank Regional Care Group for bringing our community together here in Merrillville for this celebration,” Mrvan said. “The Regional Care Group staff, Board of Directors, and stakeholders have given their time, energy, and resources to make sure that this organization can assist Northwest Indiana’s most vulnerable populations. I’m inspired by those 50 years of service. Let us all move forward understanding the power of working together to make a difference in the lives of those in need of help.”
Robert Krumwied, former president and CEO of Regional Health Systems, was awarded the Legacy of Innovation Award at the Gala. In 1975, Krumwied helped combine the Southlake Center for Mental Health and the Tri-City Comprehensive Community Mental Health Center to form the Regional Mental Health Center. This organization would go on to create subsidiaries like the Geminus Corporation and Lake Park Residential Center. These entities would all eventually be combined into Regional Care Group in 2021.
Lee Strawhun, co-founder and former president and CEO of Southlake Center for Mental Health, was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his role as a mental health field pioneer in Northwest Indiana. Strawhun and Krumwied worked closely together to break down stigmas surrounding mental health and secure holistic care services for Northwest Indiana residents.
“I appreciate this Lifetime Achievement Award very much,” Strawhun said. “These awards aren’t just an honor for me and Robert Krumwied. They are a testament to the dedication and expertise of the organization’s staff over that 50 year period. They are a testament to their commitment to the organization, each other, the clients, and the clients’ families. I’m very thankful to be here tonight.”
President and CEO of Regional Care Group William Trowbridge received the Visionary Leadership Award in recognition of the dedication he has demonstrated since ascending to his current position in 2020. Nineteenth District Indiana State Representative Julie Olthoff read a proclamation made by the Indiana House of Representatives General Assembly that officially recognized the organization’s half a century of service to the Northwest Indiana community.
For more information on the full range of Regional Care Group’s services, please visit regionalgroup.care.
