(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte resident was among the women from the region chosen for being a most impactful leader.

 

Organized by the Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association, 258 finalists were chosen from 517 nominees.  Each finalist received a medallion during a recent banquet.

 

“As this event continues to grow each year, we are reminded of the extraordinary talent thriving across all industries in our region. We are continually inspired by the passion, resilience, and leadership of these women,” said Andrea Pearman, executive director of NWIIWA.

 

Among the recipients was La Porte City Councilwoman Julie West for her work with the Play for Jake Foundation, an organization she started following the death of her son, Jake, in 2013.  He collapsed and died on the La Porte High School football practice field from an undetected heart condition.  The Play for Jake Foundation uses fund raisers and other donations to pay for heart screenings of school children in the area to prevent similar deaths.

 

West also led a successful effort at the statehouse for legislation requiring automated external defibrillators, which are designed to restart the heart of someone under cardiac arrest, at sporting, band, drama and other events in the schools.