Year ‘round walkers and Christmas gawkers will both benefit this year from the benevolence of a late Great Bend woman. And hers is a gift that will keep on giving, at least for the next few years, the Great Bend City Council learned Monday night.
The council officially accepted a donation from Barbara Bushnell, which will be administered through the Golden Belt Community Foundation.
City Administrator Howard Partington noted that the funds that have been received for the first year are planned to be used to improve Christmas lights in Brit Spaugh Park and the aging walking trail in Veterans’ Memorial Park.
It was explained by Christy Tustin, representing the foundation, that the stipulation for Bushnell’s gift is that it needs to be used for those two parks. She enjoyed both of them for many years, the council was told.
Bushnell was a lifelong resident of the Great Bend area, a Great Bend High School graduate, member of local organizations and wanted to leave behind a fund that would benefit the community, the council was told.
Golden Belt Community Foundation, which operates in Barton, Pawnee, Rush and Stafford counties, works with donors to establish funds with cash, securities, real estate, insurance or other assets, which are distributed “according to the donor’s wishes. Funds can be established with a minimum of $5,000,” information provided to the council noted.
For more information on the foundation, call 792-3000.