Participants in 39th Annual Opportunity Village Benefit Walk put giving total over $1 million mark
    The 39th Annual Opportunity Village Benefit Walk on Sunday raised approximately $75,400, making it the highest year ever. This brings the grand total of all money raised for North Iowans with disabilities to over $1,019,577 in the 39 years of the Walk.
    All proceeds from this event support services to people with disabilities at Opportunity Village throughout North Iowa. This year’s goal was $56,000. An estimated 275 walkers enjoyed a sunny but breezy day, choosing either a 10-mile or 3-mile route or the Village fitness trail.
    Paul Hassman, New Hampton, took top honors once again for bringing in the most sponsorships, with $4,597. Hassman, 94, started walking in the event in 1989 and has had the highest amount of donations for 15 of those years. Hassman’s sponsorships have totaled $61,448 since he started.
    Dan Peterson, a Village staff member from Ventura, was named to the Benefit Walk Hall of Fame for his contributions as a walker over the years. Dan and his family have raised a total of $20,953 since 1987, as far back as Village Walk records go. However, Dan has been walking in the event since he started working at the Village in 1976.
    Past recipients of the Hall of Fame award are Paul Hassman, New Hampton; Ken Wattier, Jane Iverson, Murley Severtson, Jim Ransom, and Dan and Diane Djuren, all of Clear Lake; Mary Mathews, Thompson; Marian Sanders Smith, Alden; Hazel and Ed Chuck, Mason City; Gary Mrosko, Faribault, Minn.; and Tammy Rodningen, Clear Lake.
    Village staff boosted the Walk with a friendly competition between teams to see who could raise the most money. The traveling plaque for this honor went to a large team calling themselves “The Proclaimers,” for raising a record total of $25,911.
     Next year will be the 40th anniversary of the Walk.