Shawano Pathways exceeds funding goal

Shawano Pathways reported this week that it had exceeded its fundraising goal and qualified for $20,000 from the Harold Pevonka estate.

The Pevonka estate offered Pathways $20,000 if it could raise the same amount. Pathways raised $31,000.

“We, by far, met our match and went above it,” said Matty Mathison, fundraising coordinator for the group.

Besides the $20,000 grant, the Leopolis man’s estate also gave $5,000 to Pathways in May after Mathison had visited Pevonka’s attorney, James Aschenbrener, seeking a $50 donation from the law firm.

“Here is this reclusive man who didn’t have any relatives to speak of, and he just made such an impact on all these communities,” Mathison said, noting the estate has provided funding to other organizations in Shawano County, as well. “Because he believed in healthy hearts, there will be thousands of people that will benefit from his programs.”

Pevonka’s gift also inspired others to give, said Mathison, who reported she received calls from relatives of people who had died over the last few months wanting to support Pathways’ efforts to develop bicycle and pedestrian trails, as well as other outdoor projects.

Mathison said Pathways, which sponsored the first Bike the Barn Quilts tour last year, has a number of activities are in the works. One would develop several loop routes for walkers and bicyclists within the city of Shawano.

Pathways is also looking at developing agreements with area gyms to keep them open for longer hours, especially Sunday nights, when families could benefit from a group outing.

Mathison also hopes some of the money will be used for the Safe Routes to School program, which shows school-aged children the benefits of walking to and from school. A number of Shawano public and private schools participate in the program, and the Bonduel and Wittenberg-Birnamwood school districts have expressed interest in participating, she said.

“We really want to make Shawano County what’s called an active community, make it easier for people to exercise and be outside,” Mathison said. “Whether that means making new trails, improving trails, making better signage, making it easier to use existing facilities … there are projects that we can do.”