Family Advocates

05/29/2026

Earlier this week, our mentors and mentees gathered at Kesling for an end-of-the-year celebration filled with fun, laughter, and time together before summer break!

Students and mentors enjoyed wiffle ball, football, basketball, and the opportunity to spend some extra time building the relationships that have grown throughout the school year.

We cannot thank our mentors enough for making time for their mentees week after week. The connections they’ve built are meaningful, strong, and lasting and we are certain the students already cannot wait to see them again when school starts back up in the fall.

Thank you to all of our mentors for investing in the youth of our community!

05/28/2026

🎹 SAVE THE DATE 🎹

Join us on August 8, 2026, at The Lodge at Rush Lakes for an unforgettable evening... Dueling for a Cause - where music meets mission!

An exciting night of music, community, and impact all supporting the programs and services of Family Advocates.

Dueling pianos, paddle raise, food & drink!

More details, ticket information, and sponsorship opportunities coming soon!

05/24/2026

A strong community stands together! 🩵💙

📣 LA PORTE COUNTY: Let’s show up BIG on Wednesday! 📣

Wear BLUE this Wednesday, 5-27-2026, to stand with Deputy Jon Samuelson, his family, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, 911 dispatchers, first responders, and the entire Franciscan Health Michigan City team. 💙

Schools, businesses, organizations, and families across La Porte County are coming together to show support and solidarity. Post your blue, tag your friends, your school, your workplace, and use so we can flood social media with support from every corner of our community.

Strong communities do not stand by. They stand together. 💪

05/23/2026

This morning we hosted a booth at Michigan City Farmed & Forged Market. We had a coloring station and a community board where people could write what they felt all children deserve. Watching children write the words from their heart put smiles on our faces! We enjoyed connecting with so many people today in Michigan City and spreading the word about CASA, mentoring and Family advocates!

05/22/2026

🌟 Mentor Spotlight: Meet Mark 🌟

“To me, being a mentor means being someone others can look up to in life.”

Mark enjoys mentoring because he sees so much joy, potential, and happiness in the students he works with. He believes what truly makes a difference in a child’s life is simply being there and giving them someone they can talk to about their future, goals, struggles, and dreams.

Mar shared that mentoring with our Wolf Pack Leaders program not only impacts the child, but also changes the mentor’s life in meaningful ways. By showing up consistently, listening, and offering support, mentors help young people learn, grow, and build important life skills.

He especially encourages more men to become mentors and positive role models for youth in our community.

“Sometimes the smallest encouragement can make the biggest difference in a child’s future.”

Thank you, Mark, for investing your time, heart, and encouragement into the lives of local students!

05/21/2026

Enjoy some photos of just a few of our amazing mentors and mentees from the 2025–2026 school year!

We had another successful year in both La Porte Community School Corporation and Michigan City Area Schools through our Slicer Champions and Wolf Pack Leaders mentoring programs. Throughout the year, mentors showed up consistently to encourage, support, and build meaningful relationships with students in our community.

This program would not be possible without the support of our incredible community partners, including Health Foundation of La Porte, Geminus, and MCCEC.

We are so incredibly grateful to every mentor, school partner, supporter, and community member who helps this program thrive year after year. Thank you for investing in the youth of our community!

05/20/2026

📚 Mentors...this is your final week to visit with your mentees during your scheduled school-year mentoring times!

As the school year comes to a close, we also encourage you to join the end-of-year gatherings. Please take note of the dates and times for your mentee’s school and grade level.

Thank you for the dedication, encouragement, and consistency you have shown your mentee all year long. The time you spent showing up each week truly matters and makes a lasting impact.

We hope you enjoy a wonderful summer and consider returning in the fall to continue making a difference in the lives of local students.

05/19/2026

05/19/2026

Please join us in congratulating Marlene on her promotion to Assistant Director of the La Porte County CASA Program!
Marlene has a deep commitment to advocating for children and strengthening families. Her career spans multiple areas of service, including her work with DCS, experience as a visitation supervisor, and her role as a CASA volunteer. She also has a background in education, which further strengthened her passion for supporting and empowering youth.
Being a voice for children and ensuring their safety is at the center of every decision Marlene makes, and we are excited to see her continue making an impact in this new leadership role.
Outside of her professional work, Marlene is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and volunteers with Habitat for Humanity. In her personal time, she enjoys traveling, Chicago-style stepping, crafting, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Congratulations, Marlene! We are grateful to have you as part of the Family Advocates team and look forward to all you will accomplish in this role.

05/18/2026

The Kiwanis Club of La Porte donated more than $2,000 from their Pancake Breakfast proceeds to Family Advocates!
Both of our organizations share a commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of local children and families, and we’re grateful for their support and the important work they do in our community. Thank you to everyone who attended the Pancake Breakfast and helped make this donation possible! 🥞