Press Release

January 3, 2017 | By Ohio Wesleyan University

Jan. 21 Bishop Backers Community Day Offers Free Family Fun

Event to Feature OWU Basketball, Delaware Expo, Columbus Zoo Animals, YMCA Play Area

DELAWARE, Ohio – You’re invited to join the Bishop Backers on Jan. 21 for Community Day 2017, a free Delaware celebration held at Ohio Wesleyan University.

The family-friendly event will include free admission to an Ohio Wesleyan University varsity men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader (with a canned food donation) and a Delaware Expo showcasing local nonprofit organizations and businesses.

Community Day 2017 will be held at Ohio Wesleyan’s Branch Rickey Arena and Gordon Field House, 105 S. Sandusky St., Delaware. The event will feature an indoor children’s play area courtesy of the Delaware Community Center YMCA, a visit from Columbus Zoo and Aquarium animals, and free raffles for prizes including a big-screen television.

Attendees also are invited to watch the Battling Bishop men’s and women’s basketball teams take on the DePauw University Tigers. The women’s game tips off at 1 p.m., and the men’s contest follows at 3 p.m. The community expo will be held from noon to 3:30 p.m. in the adjacent field house.

Community Day is intended to bring people together for a free afternoon of entertainment and education, building upon the strong sense of cooperation and collaboration that makes Delaware such a great community. The expo also will help businesses and community service organizations connect with potential customers and volunteers. Canned food donations will benefit LSS Food Pantries operated by Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio.

Those wishing to participate in the expo are asked to sign up before Jan. 12. Registration is free for nonprofit organizations. For-profit businesses are asked to contribute a minimum $10 gift card to be used for event raffles. Registrants will be provided with a table and two chairs. Expo registration forms are available online at www.owu.edu/BishopBackers.pdf or by contacting OWU’s Ed Lenane at ewlenane@owu.edu.

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. Learn more 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 nearly 90 undergraduate majors and competes in 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through Ohio Wesleyan’s signature OWU Connection program, students integrate knowledge across disciplines, build a diverse and global perspective, and apply their knowledge in real-world settings. 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.