By Tim Arnett
WABASH,Indiana – This year’s Chair Affair, part of the 2016 Wabash Garden Fest, will be dedicated to the memory of Cheryl Koehler. Koehler tragically died in a car accident on US 24 last November. The retired school teacher and tutor was an avid participant in the Chair Affair, submitting chairs over the last few years. The proceeds of the Chair Affair auction are always split 50-50 between to two charities. This year, Chris Benson, Chairperson of the Chair Affair, asked Koehler’s son Kenny what charities Cheryl would have donated to. Kenny responded anything children or education related. Thus, the two charities this year are Blessings in a Backpack and the Active Teachers Grant Fund, in association with the Retired Teachers Association. At the time of her death, Koehler was Secretary of the Retired Teachers Association.
Blessings in a Backpack provides a backpack filled with food for a child in need to take home for the weekend. The Active Teachers Grant Fund allows teachers to apply for a grant to purchase things for their classrooms that are not in the budget. As a requirement of the being named as the beneficiaries of the Chair Affair, both organizations will have to submit a chair of their own.
Chris Benson on why this year’s Chair Affair is dedicated to the memory of Koehler.
Benson will also send out letters to all area schools asking them to submit a chair in Koehler’s honor. Last year, there were a record 30 chairs submitted and $1,400 was raised in the auction. This year, the Wabash Garden Fest will be held on Saturday, August 20th at Paradise Spring Park. Chair Affair entries can be dropped off from 8 until 9 am that morning and public voting on the chairs runs from 9 am until 2 pm.