A community push to bring everyone together is the key to the third annual Wamego Community Foundation Match Day.
Daryn Soldan, Foundation Board Chair, says the inaugural event was in 2019, and each year since, the event has grown. Soldan says even through the pandemic and switching to a virtual setting last year, he says the funds grew from the first-year total of $180,000 plus the matching. Soldan adds that they anticipate another increase in funds this year.
“I think it really speaks volumes to the community and to the engagement in the community,” Soldan says. “I’m looking at the list right now of all the participants and they do an incredible job of covering a lot of needs, supporting a lot of great causes, supporting students, supporting kids. That’s what makes Wamego a great community is you’ve got a lot of really invested people and invested organizations and it’s exciting to see them all come together for Match Day. And as a community foundation, it’s great to be able to support them in that way.”
Soldan adds that this year’s match day event will have a few extra celebrations to round out the night as well.
“Thursday, October 7, the Wamego Area Chamber of Commerce is going to hosting their annual after-hours event in conjunction with Match Day.”
Soldan says a new partnership with Manhattan Area Technical College, will also bring another after-hours affair.
“MATC has opened up a new facility in Wamego. For those of you that aren’t familiar with that, it’s in the old Blue Stem Electric building on the north side of Highway 24, kind of over on the east side of town”
Soldan says both, that facility, and Iron Clad will have food, drinks, and celebration as the third annual Match Day concludes.
This year’s Wamego Community Foundation Match Day will take place Thursday, October 7. Soldan says the event will be back in person this year, but the opportunity to contribute online is still in place.
The in-person event will take place from 7AM to 7PM at the Iron Clad in Wamego. Opportunities for those who just want to drop off instead of going inside will be available as well. For those wanting to contribute online, visit wamegomatchday.com.
