It is through the generosity of these individuals, families, businesses and organizations that the Challenger Learning Center of NWI was able to begin their mission to inspire children to reach for the stars and beyond. With the combined effort of these early supporters, funders, and donors, the Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana was able to blast off and launch into the future to impact over 330,000 students across nearly 20 counties in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. Thank you so much for helping us get off the ground, the Challenger Learning Center of NWI Staff and Board of Directors is truly grateful for your help in our ignition.
Stellar Club ($50,001 or more)
- Web Cornwell
- Congressman Peter J. Visclosky
- Hammond Optimist Club
- Portage Township Schools
- State Representative Dan Stevenson
- State Representative Tim Fesko
- Build Indiana Funds (State of Indiana)
- Whiteco Industries Inc.
- BP Amoco
- City of Hammond and Hammond City Council
- Highland Schools
- John W. Anderson Foundation
- Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO)
- Lilly Endowment Inc.
- Legacy Foundation (Transforming Lake County)
- Merrillville Community Schools
- Dean and Barbara White Foundation
- ArcelorMittal
Endeavor ($10,001- $50,000)
- The Post Tribune
- NWI Times
- Hobart Schools
- City of Crown Point
- Crown Point School Corporation
- Citizens Financial Services
- FSB
- Griffith Schools
- Mercantile National Bank
- Crown Point Community Foundation
- Pinnacle Bank
- The Discovery Alliance
- Lake County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
- Chris and Dede Morrow Foundation
- Praxair Foundation
- AT&T Foundation
- NECA-IBEW 697
Challenger ($1,001- $10,000)
- Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana
- Indiana Space Grant Consortium
- Lake County School-to-Work Partnership
- Kenneth and Marjorie Mills
- Catholic Order of Foresters
- Michigan City
- Enrichment Corporation
- Crown Point Chamber of Commerce
- Crown Point
- Kiwanis Club
- Lake Station Schools
- Crown Point Rotary Club
- Munster Rotary Club
- Richard and Bette Oesterle
- St. Anthonys Medical Center
- Sand Ridge Bank
- Phyllis Ross Jeff Oesterle
- Security Federal Bank
- NBD Bank
- Bank Calumet
- Ms. Linda J. McClaughry-Erwin
- First National Bank of Chicago
- Wendy’s Restaurant
- Chris Morrow
- St. Marys School-Griffith
- Tim and Frankie Fesko Van-Til Foundation
- U.S.Steel/Gary Works City of Gary – Mayor Scott King
- Purdue University Calumet
- USA First Midwest Bank
- Don and Margo Powers
- IBEW/NECA Merrillville
Apollo ($501- $1,000)
- BP Amoco Foundation
- MBC Office Products Inc.
- Highland Rotary Club
- Sign-A-Rama
- Philippines Professionals Association
- Southlake Net Inc.
- Legacy Foundation
- Ed Radigan Family
- Mary Austgen Bank
- One State Line Energy
- L.L.C.
- Hammond Urban Enterprise
- Gamma Nu Chapter of Kappa Kappa Kappa
- Purdue Research Foundation
- Bill Wellman
- The Gintert Family
- Jennifer Vavrek
- Marty Wielgos
- Speros Batistatos
Pioneer ($101- $500)
- Pat Callahan
- C. Clifton Chancey
- Austgen Electric Inc.
- Marie Russo
- R. J. “Babe” Woodward Bette
- Leslie & Molly Oesterle
- Calumet Section-The Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers Inc.
- Lake Street School
- Crown Point Lions Club
- Schmidt Associates, Inc.
- Lester Weiss
- Tim Fealy
- Francis DuPey
- Cerestar USA Inc.
- John and Linda Sapyta
- Carolyn Devaney
- Kiwanis Club of Portage
- Golden Times
- Carroll Chevrolet
- Art Hill
- Donna Retson
- Ms. Terrie L. Farrenkopf
- Mr. Douglas C. Vawter
- Dow Agro Sciences
- Justin Whitesell
- Kevin and Catherine Ferguson
- Michael and Michele Barrett
- Shomir Sil
- Margaret Valenzuela
- Students & Staff Portage Township Middle Schools
- Construction Advancement Foundation
- Richard Olesek
- The Sammon Family
- The Austgen Family
- Challenger Learning Center Staff Karen Compton Erwin and Kristin McKone
- Gloria Gentlman
- Chris & Judy Leliaert
- Councilman Daniel Repay
- The Daake Family
- Weil-McLane
- LaHayne Funeral Home, Inc.
- The Maynard Family
- CJ Printing Ahepa
- Charities #78 of Merrillville
- Charles & Julie Costa
- Michael & Millie Kobe
- Robert & Jennifer Vavrek
- Robert & Majel Rivers
- Jan Olesek
- Cargill Cares Council - Hammond
Skylab ($100)
- Hammond Woodmar Lions Club
- Calumet City Lions Club
- Brenda and Gregory Kovich
- Gary and Marcia Alexander
- Lake County Surveyor George Van Til
- Dean Larson Kathleen
- Tobin-Schlesinger
- Joey and Mandy Rattazzi
- Larry Winkleman
- Griffith Savings Bank
- Mrs. Lorraine L. Durham
- Friends of Linda Myron and Linda Nidetz
- South Lake County Shrine Club
- Kiwanis Club of Highland
- The Belush Family
- Jan Rattazzi (In Memory of Bill Hart)
- Ric Frataccia
- Tom Dabertin
- Councilman Robert Markovich
- John and Karen Kovach
- The Zukanovich Family
- St. Mary School, Griffith, IN
- Sandy Stevens
- Frank J. Mrvan, North Township Trustee
- Carl J. Polk Elementary School
- Andrea Golarz Ziemba
- Jerome and Lois Banik
- Clare & Kay Gierich
- Bill & Barb Cataldi
- Ken Allen Law
- Newins Access Auto Insurance
Teacher Grant Fund Donors
- Citizens Savings Foundation Bank
- The John W. Anderson Foundation
- Mercantile Bank
- Ruth Cornwell
- Challenger Learning Center 5-Year Anniversary Attendees
- BP Amoco
- Morrow Family Foundation
- Arcelor Mittal
- Mortar Net
Special thank you to retired astronaut Jerry Ross, his mother Phyllis, sister Jan, and the Ross family for all their support of our Center. Colonel Jerry Ross donated countless pieces of NASA and space memorabilia to display at our Center. If you visit our Center, ask about the decommissioned piece of the International Space Station that Jerry Ross brought back for students to see every day!
