07/09/2008

Contact: Kimberly Tomkiewicz (219) 464-9621 ext. 299

Northwest Indiana Painters Union 460 Volunteers Time and Talent to Opportunity Enterprises

For Immediate Release: Northwest Indiana Painters Union 460 Volunteers Time and Talent to Opportunity Enterprises Innovation is always in the air at Opportunity Enterprises (OE) and the summer of 2008 promises to be one of the most exciting times within the history of the organization with the opening of Lakeside Opportunities on Lake Eliza. In preparation of opening Lakeside on July 21, a host of community volunteers have joined OE staff in readying the 13,000 square foot program center for the arrival of clients and activities. OE was pleasantly surprised to receive significant support from the apprentice painters with the Northwest Indiana Painters Union 460. Under the supervision of David Harris, Instructor/Coordinator for the Joint Apprenticeship and Training program, he and his students spent three weeks in June painting the interior and exterior of the main building. "Having this experience [at Lakeside] gives my apprentice painters the hands-on activity that is lacking in the classroom setting," explained Harris. "Volunteer opportunities like this one give the guys a chance to get real experience." The experience is one that second year commercial decorating painter Nick Schlax truly appreciated, "It's great to do charity work and to help out an organization like OE. This is a good job and I appreciate the extra interior painting experience." The hard work and knowledge that painters like Schlax brought to the job also gave OE release from the financial burden of hiring painters for the 13,000 square foot facility. "We feel very blessed to have the Painters Union 460 volunteering at Lakeside," said Ellen DeMartinis, OE Vice President/Chief Operating Officer. "For the apprentice painters, they loved being out of the classroom and putting their education to use, while for OE, their skills and time saved the agency a large amount of money that can now be routed to other building and land improvements." Lakeside Opportunities will initially house the Enriching Possibilities program and the elder day center program, Renewed Horizons. This additional 158-acre facility will also allow OE to expand its services and enrichment programs at its Evans Avenue facility. For more information on volunteering or contributing to OE, visit www.oppent.org. Since 1967, Opportunity Enterprises has been a nonprofit organization promoting self-sufficiency and life choices for challenged individuals.