Sept. 23 dog walk benefits April Millsap memorial scholarship

Bond with your fur-baby and support the April Millsap memorial scholarship fund this Saturday, Sept. 23 along the Macomb Orchard Trail at Fulton and Depot streets in Armada near the April Millsap Memorial Garden.

There is no cost to participate but walkers are asked to contribute sponsorship monies to the campaign, which plans to recognize a student in what would have been April’s graduating class, the Armada High School class of 2018.

April Millsap, 14, was murdered on the trail while walking her dog in July of 2014. A local man, James VanCallis, 34, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison in March 2016.

For each $5 in sponsorships, walkers will receive a ticket for basket raffles. Prizes include various items donated by local businesses. Participants do not need to be present to win. Tickets for a quilt raffle will also be sold at the event for $1 each.

“A scholarship is a heartwarming way to remember April,” April Millsap Memorial Garden Vice President Jean Fitzell Persely said. “And having April’s graduating class as the first-ever award is the ideal time to start this endeavor.”

Check-in for the event begins at 8:30 a.m.

While the garden has thrived under the direction of a board of local volunteers and generous donations from the community, adding the scholarship opportunity in Millsap’s name is an exciting step in a new direction.

“We want to raise at least $12,500 to provide a $500-a-year scholarship program for decades to come,” garden President Julie Risch said. “If we can raise the $12,500, then we can transfer the funds over to Four County Community Foundation which will continue to administer the grant over time.”

Candidates for the scholarship are being asked to submit an original poem or short story in honor of April, a budding author who enjoyed writing poems and short stories.

“We are thrilled to be able to partner with Four County Community Foundation for the scholarship, and knowing that April will be remembered each year through the scholarship is so very touching,” Persely added.

The first garden dog walk, held in 2016, was a success, helping to fund an irrigation system for the garden.

“We were able to raise all the money we needed, plus pay our water bills and quarterly fees,” Risch said. “And now we are encouraged by the response the community has given us on this scholarship program.”

Those who wish to contribute to the April Millsap scholarship fund can send a tax-deductible donation to AMMG Scholarship, 1523 Northampton, Kalamazoo, MI 49006. Checks should be made out to the April Millsap Memorial Garden with “Scholarship” in the memo line. Contributors can also donate directly through the scholarship’s GoFundMe account at gofundme.com/aprilmillsapscholarship.

Scholarship contributions will also be collected at the Armada-Geddon event in October.

For more information about the upcoming dog walk, contact Risch at 269-823-2958 or julierisch@aol.com. For more information about the April Millsap Memorial Garden, go to aprilmillsapmemorialgarden.weebly.com or facebook.com/groups/aprilmillsapmemorialgarden.