Kim Splant and her husband, Phil, donated a commemorative bench, made of 400 pounds of recycled plastic, in honor of Henry Penegor. He was the son of Sarah, standing-right, and husband, Eric, of Schererville. The Spants donated the bench, and $1,500 to Franciscan Health Crown Point Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where Henry died in 2012 after a premature birth. The Splants, who live in Dyer, began the Nathan C. Splant Foundation in 2007.
Nathan, now 14, and healthy, who is seated-left, was born prematurely, in 2004.The foundation benefits local premature children and their families through assistance, grant programs and prematurity research. Said Kim Splant, “The bench donations were started a couple of years ago. Each year, we select a different hospital to donate a bench.
The bench is a collection plastic caps that is built through the aid of Lake County Solid Waste Management, by Green Tree Plastics group. We were first introduced to the hospital through the Penegor family.” Added Phil, “Our mission is not only personal, but universal and we want to give back to the community.” Also shown is Mabel Penegor, age 3. The bench will sit outdoors near the hospital’s main entrance.
