A Meadowlark Ambassadors sub-committee and a few Meadowlark employees are teaming up to organize a carnival-style, fundraising event to benefit Meadowlark Foundation’s Paving the Way campaign. Mark Friday, April 15, on your calendars and expect an evening of fun, games, prizes, food, and more fun for all ages! 

The event is planned for 4 to 8 p.m. at Prairie Star Restaurant and Event Center. Residents, employees, Passport members, board members, and families are all invited. As happens at many fairs or carnivals, attendees will purchase tickets at $1 each, with various numbers of tickets required to play games, purchase food, etc.

Oodles of prizes will be required for a successful event, and Carnival committee members have already begun collecting and purchasing candy, individually wrapped snacks, trinkets, handcrafted items, costume jewelry, etc. Prizes are expected to vary in value; see future Messengers for more information as event planning progresses.

With Easter just two days after the event, plastic fillable eggs and holiday candy will be part of at least one game, and the committee welcomes donations of either or both items. Donations may be submitted at the Hospitality Desk. 

As of Wednesday, March 2, the Paving the Way project has attracted about $87,000 in donations and pledges. These funds will pay to pave a portion of the loop trail which circles Meadowlark’s campus. The section next to receive a hard surface stretches from Stillman Cemetery, located east of Meadowlark Circle, to near the new CenterPointe Physicians building, located east of the Meadowlark Valley road. 

A total of $92,000 allows for a 1,550-foot long, 6-foot wide ribbon of concrete and also covers the cost of improvements made last fall, such as dirt work and a rock base just west of a new bridge. A wide, hard-surface trail more easily accommodates persons walking side-by-side, or those using an assistive device, such as a walker, wheelchair, or mobility scooter.

Paving the Way was prompted by a matching/challenge gift of $40,000 from Jan Fink Call and Jeff Call of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., and Dan Fink of Highlands Ranch, Colo., in memory of the late Rev. H. Wayne Fink. Their gift also was inspired by Jeff Call’s parents, Jo Call, a Meadowlark resident, and the late Ed Call.