GOAL ACCOMPLISHED
Thank you to the community for supporting Mike's dream of a Caveman statue at MHS. Because of your generosity, we reached our goal and Mike's dream will become a reality. The goal is to have the Caveman in place in May 2024. We will share information with the community once the ribbon cutting date is set.

THE STORY BEHIND BEEF BASH & CAVEMAN STATUE
Several years ago, local sculptor Dave Layman worked swim meets at Mishawaka High School (MHS). This was also the time when Mike Faulkner was the Assistant Athletic Director at MHS. They began talking about the history and tradition of MHS. Through these conversations, Mike mentioned to Dave how great it would be to have a lifesize caveman statue at MHS. In 2022, when Mike was battling cancer, Dave took the time to talk with him about what he would like the caveman statue to look like. From Mike's vision, Dave has designed the Caveman.

Although Mike is gone, we want his vision to live on. Friends and colleagues from School City of Mishawaka and the Mishawaka Parks Department are working together to make the Caveman a reality. In order to make this lifesize bronze statue come to life, the Mishawaka Parks Department has helped to set up a campaign with the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority’s CreatINg Places Program. This means we are eligible for a matching grant from IHCDA’s CreatINg Places, but ONLY if we hit our goal of $50,000 first. 

The statue will be life sized. His body will be around 6’ tall and he will stand upright with his arm extended upward and will also be holding a club, very similar to the logo that is commonly used for MHS. The total height of the statue is estimated to be 10’. With the funds raised from the Beef Bash, the statue will be placed at Mishawaka High School on the west side in the new dropoff/pickup drive. The target for placement is in late Spring so the Caveman would be in place in time for graduation.

One way we used to raise funds to meet the $50,000 goal was a special concert event. Mike was given the nickname "Beef" many years ago. What would be a more fitting name for an event to honor Mike's vision than to have a Beef Bash. All proceeds and donations from the Beef Bash are going towards fulfilling Mike Faulkner’s vision of a Caveman statue placed outside of Mishawaka High School. Thank you to the entire Mishawaka community for coming out to Ironworks Plaza on September 30 to show your support for Mike and his vision. Because of your generosity, we are well on our way to reaching our goal. There's still time to donate to make Mike's vision a reality. Donations need to be made by November 4, 2023 to be eligible for IHCDA's CreatINg Places matching grant. Are you ready to help us reach our goal of $50,000? 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Our sponsors were the reason we were able to put together an event like Beef Bash. Thank you to everyone for your support:

PRESENTING SPONSOR
Zolman's Best One Tire & Auto

CHOICE SPONSORS ($1,000)
Wissco Irrigation
Midland Engineering
Forte Waterproofing
1st Source Bank
Faulkner/Robinson Families
Joyce (McCay) Chambers
Monique, Alex & Austin Faulkner
Red Bow Realty
The Whetstone's (Jean, Jim & Steve)
Mark Baer

SELECT SPONSORS ($500)
Vermillion Systems
Granger Oral Surgery & Dental Implants
On Scene Home Inspections
Paapri Cloud Technologies
Harter Supply
Mayor Dave Wood - City of Mishawaka
May Oberfell Lorber
The McClain Family

STANDARD SPONSOR ($250)
Workman Concrete
Sheila Bravken
Maz and Gregg (Jason Mazurkiewicz)
Sandy Abrams
Daisy Tees
Robert, Kathy (Gervais), Alex, Kalye, Erik Escobedo
Filippello Family
The Ten Horsemen (Clint Leazenby)
Mishawaka Parent Group
Kerry Day Family
Matthew Morin
Jim Gannon - Class of 1982
Boys & Girls Club of St. Joseph County
Jay Grass
Dr. Dean and Char Speicher

SPECIAL DONATION
Mishawaka Wrestling Club and Supporters