Duneland Area resident Michael Catania of CNO Financial Group, received the corporate Jefferson Award for Public Service. CNO's award of "High Achievement” provided to the award grantee's non-profit organization, a grant of $5000.00. At the award ceremony held in Indianapolis, Mike was accompanied by supervisor from CNO, Stacy Muentzer, his wife Kathy and State Park Little League representative, Niki Sakelaris, Mike's non-for-profit recipient. Michael was noted for the following contributions:

Michael's agency is State Park Little League Challenger, which is a recreational sports organization that offers baseball for special needs youth in Lake, LaPorte and Porter counties. Not only did Michael serve as a coach for the league, but he also assisted with the year-end awards picnic and was instrumental in establishing the parent network group for Challenger parents. Michael served on the expansion committee, creating brochures and developing a business plan for the league's expansion project. As a part of this project, Michael helped to prepare for a major fundraising campaign in order to build a "Miracle Field” that will be a level playing surface made from an Astroturf material and will allow children to play on an obstacle-free field. The surface will allow for full accessibility for disabled children and will provide a safe environment in which to play baseball. When finished, this will be the first field of its type in the State of Indiana.