Julia Hewitt, Executive Director of the Angola Area Chamber of Commerce (AACOC), along with AACOC board members Paulette Fisher and Chantell Manahan, attended our February school board meeting to present Dr. Widenhoefer with a donation of $2000. The donation is part of the revenue from the Chamber's Winter Wonderland event in December.
The Winter Wonderland event was the first large, community event the Chamber has hosted since the pandemic began in 2020. It was free to the public in mid-December, and AACOC hosted it at our central gym. Several area businesses provided free food and drinks, and sponsors paid for bounce houses and games to fill the gym. The Grinch and Buddy the Elf roamed the crowd, entertaining families, and Santa and Mrs. Claus visited children later in the afternoon. Children left the event with goody bags, which included candy and a gingerbread house kit. It was extremely well attended, and the Chamber hopes to make it an annual event.
Mrs. Hewitt humbly expressed that the donation was not a lot, but she hopes the money will go to fulfill a need for our community's students. Both Mrs. Hewitt and Dr. Widenhoefer expressed their commitment to a continued community partnership, and our school board happily accepted the donation.