Rain and mud didn’t stop the fun at this year’s Friends of West University Parks Fathers & Flashlights event. Event chairs Megan Nicodemus, Kelly Beth Hapgood, and Katy Turner (pictured, from left) led the 18th annual community fundraiser that generated more than $114,500 for West U parks. Five hundred and fifty-two children and 281 parents camped out on the fields surrounding West University Elementary School for the cherished neighborhood urban campout. Kids enjoyed exotic animal visits, a rock wall, face painting, tie-dye shirts, inflatables, snow cones, DJ dancing, and a magician’s performance before dinner from neighborhood favorites including The Pit Room, La Fresca Pizza & Grill, James Coney Island, and Chick-fil-A. Everyone gathered to watch Despicable Me 4 on the big screen while enjoying Tiny’s Milk & Cookies’ famous chocolate chip cookies. After an overnight on the fields, families woke up to breakfast from Hungry’s, Starbucks, River Oaks Donuts, the Kolache Shoppe, and Adair Concepts. 

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