United Way Northwest Indiana recently accepted a $7,500 contribution from the Everwise Foundation in support of Level Up, an initiative designed to guide residents on a path toward financial stability, a release said.

Level Up provides personalized support that connects individuals with financial counseling, employment coaching and essential local resources. With support from the Everwise Foundation, United Way will be able to reach more residents and continue building a network of support, the release said.

The partnership represents a shared vision for a strong and supportive community, the release said. For more information about United Way Northwest Indiana, visit unitedwaynwi.org.

Urschel names new sales leader

Urschel Laboratories Inc., headquartered in Chesterton, recently announced that Tristan Scoble will be the firm’s director of sales, according to a release.

The promotion is effective July 1, of Tristan Scoble from Regional Sales Manager to UL Director of Sales.

Scoble, who was regional Sales Manager, began his career with Urschel in 2015 in the Greater St. Louis area handling the Midwest territory, the release said. He transferred to Southern California in the Western territory in 2019.

Founded in 1910, Urschel is the No. 1 seller and manufacturer of food-cutting machinery around the world wherever food is commercially processed, the release said. To learn more, go to urschel.com

Franciscan Health offering produce program

Registration is now open for the Franciscan Health Produce Prescription Program in Munster, which aims to assist with chronic disease management, according to a release.

Upon successful completion of the free, six-week program, participants will receive monthly fresh produce vouchers for six months. To qualify, participants must have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure; have moderate to high food insecurity as determined by a screening process and complete a four-week Cooking Matters course, the release said.

The program will meet weekly from 11 a.m. to noon Thursdays from July 10 through Aug. 14 at the Hammond Clinic in Third Floor Room 3060 B, 7905 Calumet Ave. in Munster. The deadline to register is June 20. To register and for more information, contact Insydia Rivera at Insydia.rivera@franciscanalliance.org or 219-323-2225.

Banks win awards for community commitment

Two local banks were among those honored recently by the Indiana Bankers Association.

Peoples Bank in Munster and Centier Bank in Merrillville were recognized as finalists in the Indiana Bankers Association Commitment to Community Awards. Home Bank, Martinsville; Community First Bank of Indiana, Kokomo; and 1st Source Bank, South Bend, were top winners for outstanding community service performed during 2024, the release said. Winners were announced May 29 during the IBA Mega Conference in Indianapolis.

The association created the C2C Awards in 2018 to celebrate exceptional bank outreach and raise public awareness of the diverse ways that banks support the communities they serve, the release said.

All 22 nominees are featured on IBA social media under hashtag #C2CAwards. A summary of all bank nominations is available on the IBA website.

— Staff reports