Chester Inc. presented a $35,000 donation to Neighbors' Educational Opportunities (NEO) on May 22, supporting the organization's Rising Up campaign and commemorating over a decade of partnership between the architectural and construction firm and the educational center.
The partnership began when Rebecca Reiner, NEO’s founder and executive director, approached Chester with a challenge: to help create a new hub for adult education in Porter County. NEO had outgrown its old location and needed a facility that could accommodate more students, programs, and services. Chester accepted the task and found the ideal site - the old Camelot Bowling Alley.
“This spot was a diamond in the rough, and it was the right time with the right people,” said Tony Peuquet, sales engineer at Chester Inc. “Everything culminated in this perfect moment to execute a project. This is a school, a safe haven, a working space, a sportsplex - there’s just so much happening here. It’s been 10 years of our vision, shared with Rebecca’s, to make it all happen.”
Chester and NEO built the facility with expectations of growth, with the most recent expansion being the Safe Haven Early Learning Academy at NEO. Set to open soon, Safe Haven will serve up to 130 young children, including those as young as 6 weeks old. Half of those spots are reserved for children from financially challenged families.
“There have been a lot of times where we’ve needed to adjust our vision to reflect workforce needs in the area,” Reiner said. “Chester’s been flexible and accommodating to meet those adjustments and help us address the Region’s needs.”
The Rising Up campaign, which Chester’s $35,000 gift supports, is aimed at further enhancing Safe Haven. The facility is now fully furnished and awaiting final certifications before opening its doors to families.
“NEO is about giving the first chance, second, chance, and third chance to individuals that need an opportunity and a boost,” Peuquet said. “We want to be a part of that. We chose this campaign because those opportunities begin with people having the chance to get back into the workforce, and part of that is having childcare that they can trust. This is about education, earning a degree, and finding ways to be successful at all levels.”
For Reiner, Chester’s donation goes far beyond material support. For a nonprofit such as NEO, community backing is essential - without it, its doors could close, cutting off access to benefits the organization brings to the Region.
“Supporting adult education is a return on investment for higher quality of life indicators, higher earnings, bigger tax bases, lower incarceration rate, and lower unemployment rates,” Reiner said. “It’s a win-win for businesses and communities to support adult education, so for Chester to set the stage with their commitment is huge for us.”
Peuquet is thrilled to be a part of NEO’s continued growth, pointing to Chester’s partnership with the organization as encapsulating everything his business is about.
“This is the reason I exist in my position,” he said. “This kind of execution and success with a partner is what drives me to show up to work every day. I wish everybody could find something they have passion for. Rebecca has it for what she does, I have it for what I do. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, and I cannot believe that there’s so many adults and kids that are going to be educated through the work NEO is doing here.”
To learn more about Chester Inc. and all of its services, visit chesterinc.com. For more information about Neighbors Educational Opportunities, visit its Facebook page.
