Winter Community Day 2025

Winter Community Day 2025

Bishop Backers Invite Nonprofits, Businesses to Register Now for Expo Space at Feb. 22 OWU Event

DELAWARE, Ohio - The Bishop Backers invite you to save the date for Winter Community Day 2025, a countywide Delaware celebration featuring free admission (with a canned food donation) to an Ohio Wesleyan University basketball doubleheader vs. Denison University and a Delaware Expo that showcases local nonprofit organizations and businesses.

Bishop Backers Winter Community Day 2025 will be held Saturday, Feb. 22, at Ohio Wesleyan's Branch Rickey Arena and Gordon Field House, 105 S. Sandusky St., Delaware. In addition to free admission, the event features free on-campus parking.

Organizations wishing to have a table at the Delaware Expo are asked to register online now at owu.edu/BishopBackers. Tables are $25 for for-profit businesses, payable at the time of registration, and free for nonprofit organizations. The registration deadline for both groups is Jan. 31.

All participants are invited to collect canned goods in advance at their locations to contribute to the day's food drive, which will benefit the Delaware County Hunger Alliance, a United Way of Delaware County initiative.

During the family-friendly Bishop Backers event, the OWU women's and men's basketball teams will take on the rival Big Red from Denison University. It will be senior day for Ohio Wesleyan, marking the last home games for the 2024-2025 Battling Bishops. The women's game will tip off at 1 p.m., and the men's game will follow at 3 p.m.

The Delaware Expo will be open from noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 22 and is expected to feature:

• A children's play area courtesy of the Delaware Community Center YMCA.
• A visit from Columbus Zoo and Aquarium animal ambassadors between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
• A chance to explore the Delaware Fire Department's inflatable fire safety house with giveaway helmets and stickers for children.
• A chance for everyone to learn CPR from Delaware County EMS.
• A meet-and-greet with Battling Bishop varsity athletes.
• A free raffle for a big-screen television courtesy of First Commonwealth Bank and 50/50 raffles to benefit the Hunger Alliance.

Community Day is intended to bring people together for a free afternoon of entertainment and education, building on the strong sense of cooperation and collaboration that makes Delaware such a great community. The expo also will help businesses and nonprofit organizations to connect with potential customers and volunteers, including Ohio Wesleyan students and alumni.

The Bishop Backers is an organization of community advocates interested in sharing information about athletics and other events at Ohio Wesleyan and in connecting potential student-volunteers, interns, and employees with local organizations. Learn more at owu.edu/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 more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.