[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E980-E981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING MIKE BRENNAN, FOUNDER AND FORMER CO-CHAIRMAN OF UNITY 
                               FOUNDATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. FRANK J. MRVAN

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 28, 2022

  Mr. MRVAN. Madam Speaker, it is with great respect and admiration 
that I take this time to honor Mike Brennan and to wish him well upon 
his retirement from the board of Unity Foundation of La Porte County. 
Mike is the founder and former Co-Chairman of this outstanding 
organization, and his lifetime commitment to charitable efforts is to 
be commended. Mr. Brennan will be honored at the foundation's 30th 
anniversary celebration taking place at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan 
City, Indiana, on Saturday, October 1, 2022.
  Mike Brennan is a developer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. His 
successful career and lifetime of service is truly impressive and 
noteworthy. Among his many accomplishments, Mike is the founder and 
developer of Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets mall, which was built in 
1987 in Michigan City, Indiana. In 1997, Mike was an investor of the 
former site of Joy Manufacturing which he helped develop into the 
Michigan City Enterprise Center, a facility that housed numerous 
companies and created many jobs throughout Northwest Indiana. In 
addition, he was a co-owner of Sager Metal Strip Company in Michigan 
City, a company that engineered and designed conveyor systems for 
organizations worldwide.
  In the early 1990s, Mr. Brennan responded to the Lilly Endowment Inc. 
GIFT Initiative (Give Indiana Funds for Tomorrow) and began organizing 
ideas that would eventually culminate in the creation of Unity 
Foundation of La Porte County. Mike sought to establish an organization 
focused on giving back to the community. Since the beginning, he worked 
to unite local companies and partnered with remarkable leaders from La 
Porte, Michigan City, and throughout the region to help create Unity 
Foundation of La Porte County. Under Mike's outstanding leadership, the 
foundation has been immensely successful and continues to grow and 
expand. Today, the organization's assets have grown to more than forty 
million dollars while awarding over one million dollars in grants and 
scholarships each year. In addition, Unity Foundation has successfully 
reached all seven of Lilly Endowment Inc.'s fundraising challenges and 
has funded many projects, grants, and services including the Unity Park 
project, Save the Mill Pond, The Home Team, Trail Creek Watershed 
Planning & Partnership, The Discovery Alliance, Vibrant Communities of 
La Porte County and numerous COVID disaster relief and recovery 
efforts, to name a few. For his devotion to improving communities in La 
Porte County and throughout Northwest Indiana, Mr. Brennan is worthy of 
the highest praise.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues 
join me in recognizing Unity Foundation of La Porte County as the 
organization celebrates its 30th anniversary and in honoring Mike 
Brennan for his inspirational leadership and in wishing him well upon 
his retirement from the board. Mr. Brennan's remarkable contributions 
to the foundation and to the community will have a positive impact for 
generations to come.

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