Crown Point, IN – The 14th-annual Influential Women of Northwest Indiana Awards Banquet, a celebratory event that highlights the achievements of women in the region, is set for Sept. 25 at Avalon Manor in Merrillville.
The finalists for the 14th annual Influential Women Awards have been announced, with 258 shining stars highlighting the achievements of women from many leading regional companies and organizations, including several locally familiar faces.
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By James Master
KNOX – On April 22, the Knox City Council was given the annual update, by Executive Director of the Starke County Youth Club Irene Szakonyi, about what the club has been doing recently.
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A Rainbow Splash Fun Run and Walk is set for Sunday, Aug. 20 at 8 a.m. CT at the Hamlet Fire Station and all of the proceeds will benefit kids in Starke County. The event is part of this year’s Yellowstone Trail Festival.
This is an opportunity to meet with your friends for a morning of fun. Run or walk this event and get splashed with color at points along the route. Proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit the Starke County Youth Club
Irene Szakonyi from the Starke County Youth Club said sign up is easy.
A local nonprofit organization is doing its part to keep Starke County students from becoming statistics. Starke County Youth Club Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says nationwide 11.3 million school-aged children are unsupervised after school. In Indiana, only 11 percent are enrolled in an after-school program. Continue reading
The Starke County Youth Club has been selected by a local farmer to receive a $2,500 donation. Continue reading
IU Health Starke Hospital’s investment in the youth of the community has earned them recognition from the Starke County Youth Club. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi presented IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty the Aim High Award in recognition of the hospital’s top pledge of $5,000 during the recent radiothon. The daylong fundraiser on WKVI raised $41,000 for the club. It provides after school and summer enrichment programs for students from Knox, North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis schools at sites throughout the county. Continue reading
A nonproift organization dedicated to serving youngsters in Starke County is the recipient of funds from the Indiana First Lady’s Charitable Foundation. Starke County Youth Club Executive Director Irene Szakonyi and Melissa Smith accepted the honor during a Tuesday reception at the Governor’s residence.
“The Starke County Youth Club is one of those organizations that is doing great work for our Hoosier children and families, and it is an honor to recognize them today,” First Lady Karen Pence said. Continue reading
The Starke County Youth Club is the recipient of a $5,000 Sustainability Fund grant from the Northern Indiana Community Foundation. SCYC Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says the money will be used to establish an endowment to support the youth club’s work and mission. Funds in the endowment are invested, and a portion of the interest comes back to the organization each year to help offset operating expenses. Continue reading
The Starke County Youth Club held the 7th annual Radiothon yesterday on WKVI.
Executive Director Irene Szakonyi said it was a great event.
“We had an absolutely fantastic day,” beamed Szakonyi. “This community comes through every year for our kids and so we can chalk this up to another really great day.”
Several testimonials were given by students and leaders of the club. Organizations, residents and businesses donated just over $42,000 during the six-hour event, which was the fundraising goal.
The Starke County Youth Club aims to be a support system for children, families and the three county school corporations.
“We know that schools are under tremendous pressure to have kids succeed academically, and that a lot of funding for schools is tied to how kids perform on standardized tests. That’s really a lot to ask of a school community. It is part of our job to ensure we are supporting what the schools need to accomplish.”
Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says the Starke County Youth Club does that by providing after school enrichment programs for 600 youngsters at four sites across the county. All of the programs are based in local schools, so Szakonyi says the staff is in constant contact with teachers, administrators and others to make sure students are getting what they need. She says children who succeed academically have a greater likelihood of being successful adults. Continue reading
Starke County Youth Club members and volunteers will take over the WKVI airwaves on Friday to raise money for the nonprofit organization. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says they provide academic support to 600 youngsters across the county at after-school sites at Knox, North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis Elementary schools and at O-D Junior/Senior High School. They give students quiet time to do homework, offer one-on-one tutoring in a specific subject and offer a variety of enrichment programs like technology classes, videography and world travel through culture centers. Services are offered each Monday through Friday for three hours after school.
“That is the time when kids are most likely to be the victims of or perpetrators of violent crime. We know that kids who don’t have proper supervision, who don’t have great role models, who aren’t engaged in something productive, make the wrong choices in their lives. So we’re there to provide a safe, engaging and positive environment for kids once the school day ends,” Szakonyi says. Continue reading
The main source of funding for the Starke County Youth Club is in jeopardy as members of Congress continue to squabble over a federal budget for the next fiscal year. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says the House budget proposal slashes money used to provide services for 600 youngsters in grades K-12 in Starke County.
“The threat is our largest source of funding, which is the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program, will be eliminated, so we really are encouraging everyone to reach out to their legislators and talk to them about why children, youth in this country are important, why after school programs are important and to encourage them to keep funding for our kids and our communities,” said Szakonyi.
An all-day conference of the Leadership Starke County organization will take place today at the North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The 12 members on the committee will be discussing education, future direction, funding and holding several panel discussions on the different topics.
The Starke County Youth Club is in need of volunteers, and Executive Director Irene Szakonyi said it’s easy to make a different in the life of a young adult. Volunteer mentors – or coaches – play a vital role in reaching out to young adults, and the strong connection that forms helps to make a difference in their life.
Szakonyi explained that coaches can make a healthy connection by listening to their buddy’s concerns, doing activities that their buddy likes to do, and forming a relationship that is often more effective than interacting with teachers, parents, or other adults. The main goal is about starting a friendship and providing a level of guidance to allow each buddy to reach their full potential.
It’s finally here: The Starke County Youth Club Radiothon will take place today to raise funds for the organization that helps over 600 Starke County children. With four sites throughout the county that provide after-school, summer, and recreational programs, more than 200 students use the after-school program each and every day.
Youth Club Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says they will be accepting pledges for six hours.
“We take over the station at 10 in the morning, and we are live on the air until 4 p.m. taking calls. Thank you WKVI and all of our donors out there,” said Szakonyi.
The key aspects of the SCYC program are education, enrichment, relationships, and community. Everyone is encouraged to make a pledge for this very worthwhile cause.
Each day brings Starke County Youth Club Radiothon closer, and Irene Szakonyi, Executive Director of the Youth Club, says they are getting ready for the event which is planned for Friday, and she encourages everyone to make a donation. Szakonyi explained that the club gives students the opportunity to collaborate with many different schools and organizations across the country.
“We really appreciate that we are able to collaborate not just with our school corporations, but with other local agencies, too. We feel like we can be part of that network that brings people together, whether it’s Purdue Extension and 4-H programs, or Junior Achievement and Starke United. All the way across the board we feel like we have partners in helping kids and families succeed,” said Szakonyi.
Szakonyi will explain more about the event tomorrow, and on Friday, the radiothon will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WKVI is gearing up for its annual Radiothon for the Starke County Youth Club. This Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., we’ll be on the air taking pledges and informing the public about this award-winning club.
Youth Club Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says her main goal for the radiothon is educate the community about the club’s purpose.
The Starke County Youth Club is getting ready for its annual WKVI Radiothon fundraiser to be held May 4th.
The Director of the SCYC, Irene Szakonyi, said they recently had their annual evaluation.
“We had our annual evaluation this year, and our results were phenomenal,” she praised. “All of our sites were visited by the state, and out of all possible points we only missed two. It’s fantastic! We’re proud of our staff and kids.”
