Warsaw Area Career Center engineering students and Warsaw Community High School art students teamed up to benefit the Magical Derby fundraiser Saturday. The students worked together to build two sets of corn hole games to be used at the second annual fundraiser for The Magical Meadows. The Derby starts at 6 p.m. in the Toyota of Warsaw showroom; tickets are $35 and are available by calling 574-551-6723. The aim of the fundraiser is to establish an operating fund to cover ongoing expenses at the Meadows, according to Tina Rice, derby committee chair. The fund will allow the therapeutic riding center to be self-sufficient and pay for such needs as hiring staff members, she said. The derby is seperate from the “Finish the Dream” campaign to raise remaining funds for construction of an indoor riding and activity center, she added. The career center and high school students designed, built and painted one “Warsaw Tiger” set to be used as a silent auction item and designed the other with the Magical Meadows theme, to be used by the special needs children and adults in their riding lessons and for future use in the new enclosed riding arena and activity building. “The students will be able to ride up along the corn hole set and drop the bag in the hole, during therapy riding lessons. And during off riding times, we can play corn hole in the activity building,” said Tammy Stackhouse, executive director of The Magical Meadows. “The neat thing is, the Warsaw Area Career Center and the High School art students have provided another opportunity for our kids to participate in an activity that most don’t realize they can do, and that is to play corn hole, even if they are wheelchair bound. We are so grateful for this gift.” She added the set that will be auctioned off is also bound to help the Meadows. “Many great silent auction (items) have been donated and we look forward to a very successful night,” she said. Auction items include an autographed football from Brian Kelly, head coach of Notre Dame football; a $100 gift certificate to Cerulean restaurant; a week of boys basketball camp from Grace College and a week of camp from Camp Crosley; and a day at the races from Arlington International Race Course with clubhouse box seats for six. The derby themed event will also feature a viewing of the Kentucky Derby followed by a derby inspired dinner with mint juleps and a cash bar. Star Entertainment from Cleveland, Ohio, will also conduct their “night at the races” show. Derby dress is encouraged with a Derby Hat Contest for the ladies – trophies, sashes and red roses are on the line for win, place and show awards for decorated hats.
