Shawano Pathways could be getting a sizable donation from the estate of a Leopolis man if members’ fundraising skills are up to the task.
Pathways received $5,000 recently from the Harold E. Pevonka Trust. There is the potential for the organization, which promotes healthy living, to receive an additional $20,000 if the group can come up with matching funds.
In a May 25 letter from Pevonka’s attorney, James Aschenbrener, to Pathways member Matty Mathison, Aschenbrener explained that Pevonka directed in his trust that a certain percentage of his assets go to efforts that promote healthy hearts. Among Pathways’ programs are walking and biking campaigns.
“He had said that both he and his sister had weak hearts, so he knew it was an area of need,” Aschenbrener wrote. “Shawano Pathways helps people in the Shawano community to maintain healthy hearts.”
Aschenbrener’s letter describes Pevonka as someone with a good-hearted nature but still had firm convictions on certain issues. Pevonka was reclusive and lived his whole life in the same farmhouse on County Road D in Leopolis. He never married and had no children.
The donation started with a visit from Mathison to Aschenbrener’s office seeking a $50 donation from the business for Pathways’ Bike the Barn Quilt tour. The group is selling sponsorships of $50 to get business names on a map of the barn quilt routes, as well as $150 for the businesses to be mentioned on both maps and T-shirts.
“He said, ‘I think we can do better than $50,’” Mathison said of the initial meeting, noting that Aschenbrener offered $2,000 at the time. “I’m glad I was sitting down, because I would have fallen over.”
That was when Aschenbrener spoke about Pevonka, his life and his estate. Despite being disabled since childhood, Pevonka worked full-time and ran his farm, according to Mathison.
Although $2,000 was discussed, when Pathways received the official check, it was for $5,000.
That was not the end of the story.
Soon after, Aschenbrener joined Mathison and her partner for dinner, where Aschenbrener offered the $20,000 matching grant. Pathways will need to match dollar for dollar in order to receive the full amount by the end of the year.
“Who would know that (seeking) $50 would turn into $25,000?” Mathison said. “Before this, we were talking about selling brats (to raise money), but then you get this kind of money.”
In recognition of Pevonka’s donation, Pathways is planning to sponsor a barn quilt in his name. The pattern under consideration is Trail of the Lonesome Pine, which Mathison feels best symbolizes the reclusive benefactor.
“We’re going to put hearts on it, because the theme of this grant is, ‘Give from the heart for healthy hearts,’” Mathison said.
The money will help to advance, well ahead of schedule, Shawano Pathways’ plans to promote healthier lifestyles. Shawano County ranks 63rd out of the 72 counties for overall quality of health; Menominee County ranks 72nd.
Pathways’ projects include making the Mountain Bay Trail crossing at Green Bay Street in Shawano safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. Considered the most treacherous intersection for those not in a motor vehicle, new safety measures, including a median in the middle of the road with warning lights, are expected to cost about $300,000, according to Mathison.
Pathways also does the Safe Routes to School program with the Shawano public schools, and the group wants to expand it to Bonduel schools and Shawano’s parochial schools. The group also has a long-term goal of developing a multi-use trail around the perimeter of Shawano Lake.
Greg Sturm, president of Shawano Pathways, credited Mathison with putting in a lot of work to get the funding.
“This will really be a help and assistance to our organization and our movement forward in the community by supporting many of the options we have in creating trails and signage, and improving the hiking and biking experience in Shawano County,” Sturm said.
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