Puyallup Fair Foundation Launches Fundraising Campaign with Local Leadership
Greg Meeker, Jerry Korum and Dan Absher join forces to raise funds
Puyallup, WA – May 13, 2009 - The Puyallup Fair Foundation, whose mission is to financially support the scholarships and educational programs of the Fair and to preserve and improve the Fair for future generations, today announced its goal of raising $1.5 million under the campaign leadership of Greg Meeker.
Meeker is co-owner of Puyallup Appliance and Mattress Company along with his high-school friend and business partner, Puyallup native, Dan Balmer. Meeker is joined in this fundraising effort by other familiar community leaders Jerry Korum, Korum Automotive Group, and Dan Absher, Absher Construction, who serve as honorary co-chairs of the fundraising campaign.
Greg Meeker feels many area residents and businesses who also regard the Fair as a local treasure and an important economic engine in this community will want to seize the opportunity to become a Founder. “Being a Founder will be part of your legacy,” said Meeker. “This is something that will benefit generations to come. Such an opportunity might only come along once in your lifetime. Don’t let it pass you by.”
A highly visible Foundation program slated for introduction in 2010 is the Traveling Farm Project, which will create a museum/classroom inside a customized semi-truck and trailer. When completed, the vehicle will travel to elementary school children throughout the region.
The curriculum for the Traveling Farm, developed under the guidance of Puyallup School District educators, touches upon several topics, including how farming impacts a child’s life; the care of plants and animals; healthy, local food choices; farming as a career, and much more. In an era when children may not know where their food comes from, and where childhood obesity is a growing epidemic, this project is seen as both timely and important.
Meeker, Korum and Absher all share a love of the Fair and a desire to see it thrive and to expand its educational programs and outreach to the community. The money raised in the Puyallup Fair Foundation campaign will support the Fair’s scholarship programs, as well as a “heritage” project. This endeavour will preserve people’s memories of the Fair over the years and be presented in a book/DVD format.
Greg Meeker recalls growing up in Puyallup, counting the days until the opening of the Fair in September. Some of his fondest memories are of attending the Fair with his beloved Grandmother Meeker. Now, as a father of four, Meeker has passed that tradition along to his children, and is committed to preserving the Fair experience for them and for future generations.
Like many area residents, Meeker can recount favorite Fair memories, such as the time his friend and mentor Bill Stoner responded to Greg’s request to “do something to help out at the Fair.” Stoner responded, “Here’s a shovel and there’s a stall.”
Since those early days, Meeker has shown his unflagging support for the Fair by joining the “White Hat Club,” an organization that has funded the scholarship programs at the Fair. To date, the Fair has distributed more than $516,000 to local high school graduates seeking higher education.
During this year only, gifts to the Puyallup Fair Foundation of a minimum of $5,000 paid over 1-5 years will entitle the donor to be recognized as a “Founder.” Founders will have their gifts commemorated on the grounds of the Puyallup Fair & Events Center in perpetuity.
The Puyallup Fair Foundation, a 501(c)(3), was first introduced to the community in April 2008. For more information, call (253) 841-5105.
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