As Regional Director of Big Shoulders Fund, Dan Kozlowski knows the importance of serving the Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland community. He grew up in Cedar Lake, attended catholic elementary and middle schools as well as Hanover Central High School, and received his Bachelor’s in business and accounting from Valparaiso University.
Once Kozlowski moved to Michigan to start his career after college, he quickly realized accounting was not the correct career path for him. He returned to Valparaiso University, received his Master’s in business, and began working closely with nonprofits in the area. Through his work at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Ill., Kozlowski got a deeper understanding of what education truly means and how important a helping hand, like the nonprofit organization Big Shoulders Fund, can be for the youth.
LEADERSHIP LIFE | DAN KOZLOWSKI | THE CALL TO ACTION
Regional Director Dan Kozlowski spoke with GreatNews.Life Founder Chris Mahlmann about what drew Kozlowski to assisting catholic schools in the area as well as the early beginnings of Big Shoulders Fund, which started as a simple scholarship.
“As the organization grew, it became apparent that the schools needed assistance in other ways, other than scholarship support. They needed operational support, financial support, educational counseling,” he said.
LEADERSHIP LIFE | DAN KOZLOWSKI | IMPORTANCE OF FAITH-BASED EDUCATION
Coming from a family that frequently practices Catholicism, Kozlowski was prepared to grow up in the same school system as his parents. Through his experience in Catholic schooling, he realized that learning in a faith-based environment was the perfect fit for him. Kozlowski believes his education set him up very well for his current role as Regional Director.
LEADERSHIP LIFE | DAN KOZLOWSKI | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN NWI
“The resources that we have locally through the state of Indiana’s school choice and scholarship program gives almost every family in Northwest Indiana a real choice of where to send their child,” Kozlowski said.
As a result, Big Shoulders Fund developed a website for students and families to walk through each qualification step-by-step to become a part of the expanded scholarship program.
LEADERSHIP LIFE | DAN KOZLOWSKI | LEND A SHOULDER DAYS
Kozlowski is always looking for ways to have more outreach in the Region. By revamping service projects in their schools, Big Shoulders Fund is continuing to host “Lend A Shoulder Days” where other organizations come out to work on said service projects as a way to get involved hands-on with the surrounding Catholic school systems.
LEADERSHIP LIFE | DAN KOZLOWSKI | HOW LEADERS BUILD LEADERS
“I wouldn’t be where I am without my parents, pushing me, nagging me, and really bringing me along,” Kozlowski said. “Along the way, there were so many professionals that took me under their wing and showed me the way.”
Along with his Catholic education, Kozlowski gave credit to the people around him for his development in leadership. He calls others to reach out to younger leaders and do the same.
LEADERSHIP LIFE | DAN KOZLOWSKI | LEADERS WORKING WITH LEADERS
Kozlowski has been honored to work closely with the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation to give back in any way, shape, or form to the Northwest Indiana community with Big Shoulders Fund.
“They want to see the community involved in this initiative. They want to see other people get involved, and that’s really the charge I’m taking over the next 12 months,” Kozlowski said.
To learn more about Dan Kozlowski and Big Shoulders Fund, visit https://bigshouldersfund.org.
