Bishop Backers Invite Delaware Organizations, Businesses to Take Part in Jan. 17, 2015, Community Service Day Celebration
DELAWARE, Ohio – On Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, the Bishop Backers will host “Community Service Day 2015,” featuring free admission to the Ohio Wesleyan University men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader (with the donation of a canned food item) and a community expo showcasing local nonprofit organizations, community service agencies, businesses, and restaurants.
The event is intended to bring the community together for a free day of entertainment and education, building upon the strong sense of cooperation and collaboration that makes Delaware such a great place to live, work, study, and play. The expo also will help businesses and community service organizations to connect with potential customers and volunteers, including Ohio Wesleyan students and alumni.
Those wishing to participate in the expo are asked to sign up before Jan. 5, 2015. The cost for a table and two chairs is $10 for for-profit businesses and free for nonprofit service organizations, courtesy of Delaware County Bank. Expo registration forms are available online at www.owu.edu/BishopBackers.pdf or by contacting Ed Lenane at Ohio Wesleyan at ewlenane@owu.edu.
The expo, featuring free children’s activities and food items for purchase, will open to the public at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 17. Both the Battling Bishop women’s and men’s basketball teams will take on the DePauw (Indiana) Tigers. The women’s game tips off at 1 p.m. and the men’s game at 3 p.m. The expo will be held in Gordon Field House and the basketball games in the adjoining Branch Rickey Arena, 105 S. Sandusky St., Delaware.
“The Bishop Backers Community Service Day gives us an opportunity to bring ‘town and gown’ together to showcase the wonderful opportunities available locally, to be involved in community service, and to learn more about many of our Delaware-area businesses,” said Roger Ingles, OWU’s director of athletics and a leader of the Bishop Backers. “In between, you get to watch some very good basketball teams compete. Admission is free, and we look forward to seeing you there.”
The Community Service Day 2015 celebration also will feature brief remarks from Delaware Mayor Carolyn Kay Riggle, Delaware County Commissioner Gary Merrell, and Ohio Wesleyan President Rock Jones. During halftime of the women’s game, youth basketball exhibitions will be held. During halftime of the men’s game, the 2014 OWU men’s soccer team will be recognized for its national NCAA Division III tournament performance.
The Bishop Backers is an organization of community advocates interested in sharing information about the breadth of athletics, arts, and educational opportunities available at Ohio Wesleyan and in connecting potential student-volunteers, interns, and employees with local organizations. The organization is being re-energized to build upon the community collaboration and visibility generated by the May 2014 national NCAA Division III track & field championships held at the university.
“I would hope that many community businesses and organizations would take advantage of Community Service Day to promote their business and/or their programs and service/membership opportunities,” said Jack Hilborn of Hilborn Insurance, a community and Bishop Backers leader. “Community Service Day is a great opportunity to bring the community and university together and for area residents to be on campus, to learn more about their community, and to watch NCAA Division III basketball at its best.”
Follow the Bishop Backers or learn more about the organization at www.facebook.com/BishopBackers.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers 86 undergraduate majors and competes in 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Ohio Wesleyan combines a challenging, internationally focused curriculum with off-campus learning and leadership opportunities to connect classroom theory with real-world experience. OWU’s 1,750 students represent 46 U.S. states and territories and 43 countries. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives,” listed on the latest President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, and included in the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “best colleges” lists. Learn more at www.owu.edu.