Business Made Social - September 2023

Join us for Business Made Social, a networking event for La Porte business people! This event will be held at State Street Community Church, at 7:30 a.m. on September 26. Our guest speaker will be Maria Fruth, President and CEO of the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte.

This event is free of charge.

Register by clicking the link to the right or call 219.324.8584 for more information. By registering for this event, you are not registering for all future Business Made Social events.

Maria Fruth is the president and CEO of Healthcare Foundation of La Porte, a private, independent foundation dedicated to empowering La Porte County residents to live healthy and well.

HFL was created from the proceeds of the sale of IU Health La Porte Hospital in March of 2016. As HFL’s first CEO, Maria led the process of creating the foundation’s structure, including its strategic direction, grantmaking programs, and nonprofit capacity-building efforts. Under Maria’s leadership, HFL has launched three community-wide collaboratives that bring partners together to solve complex problems, including Partners for Healthier Babies, Partners in Prevention, and Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL); grown the When Seconds Count: AED Initiative by adding 188 more life-saving AEDs in key community locations; built and opened the doors to the 13,000 square foot HFL Conference & Learning Center; and invested over $38 million in the community.

Following years of teaching, community service, and business experience, Maria started her career with La Porte Hospital in 1996 as the director of development. In 1998, she was named chief operating officer of the La Porte Hospital Foundation and executive vice president of La Porte Hospital. During her 20 years at La Porte Hospital, she oversaw all aspects of La Porte Hospital Foundation and raised over $17 million for the hospital services, health programs, scholarships, and community health. She also served as the administrator of several hospital services (2011 to 2016) and the Community Health and Dental Center (2011 to 2014).

Maria received her Bachelor of Arts in Languages from the University Federal Minas Gerais, in Brazil. In 1999, she received her Certification in Fund Raising Management from Indiana University Center on Philanthropy, Fund Raising School. Maria is trained as a green belt Sigma Lean Six and is a graduate of Leadership La Porte County. She is a member of the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance and serves on the 2023 Board of Directors. She is also a member of Council on Foundations, Grantmakers in Health, and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations.

Maria has resided in La Porte with her husband Greg since 1976, and they have three sons and four grandchildren.

This event will take place the third Tuesday of every other month; time varies.

Please let us know if you have any exceptions or special needs by 3/20/23. By attending this event, you are accepting to be photographed and have those materials utilized in future LEAP marketing materials. If you would prefer to not be photographed, please let a LEAP member know by calling 219.324.8584 or emailing LindsayK@laportepartnership.com.