By By Chris Whitaker / staff writer
May 24, 2002
The first Spirit of Hope Children's Festival is set for 10 a.m. Saturday at Sellers Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Daewoo on Highway 39 North.
Brad Besner, co-owner of Sellers Automotive Group, said the event will be a day-long carnival of games and food to benefit Hope Village for Children a home for abused and neglected children.
Besner said he hopes the carnival will raise about $20,000 of the estimated $50,000 cost for a playground. Hope Village only has swings for its children.
Besner said the carnival will offer pony rides, carnival rides, carnival games, face painting, and a dunking booth featuring news anchors from WTOK-TV and announcers from WOKK radio.
Admission is free, but rides will cost from $1 to $4 each. Besides Sellers, other sponsors include Rush Foundation Hospital, WTOK and WOKK.
Tickets to Thursday's Charlie Daniels Band concert and a guitar donated by Peavey Melody Music will be given away.
Hope Village opened Jan. 1; planning for the home began the year before. The home is on 23rd Avenue, at the site of the old Masonic Home.
Besner became involved with Hope Village when he moved here from Boca Raton, Fla., in January. He and his wife visited the home and were impressed with what they saw.
CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL
The event: The Spirit of Hope Children's Festival will raise money for a playground at Hope Village for Children.
The time: The carnival opens 10 a.m. Saturday on the grounds of Sellers Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Daewoo on Highway 39 North.
The price: Admission is free, but rides will cost from $1 to $4 each.