The Haddon Fortnightly evening membership department is teaming with Markeim Arts Center to host a LEGO challenge on Saturday, Oct. 26, that will benefit the two organizations.
The ticketed event will be held at the Haddon Fortnightly from 1 to 5 p.m. and there are three opportunities to participate, each requiring its own registration. The event is intended for individuals 5 and up.
Maryann McKenzie, a member of Fortnightly’s membership department and a volunteer overseeing the challenge, explained that Pat Barnes came up with the LEGO idea after finding there were no competitions nearby.
The first part of the event is a creative design contest open to all age groups. Unlike the other two challenges, it will take place on site, with LEGOS provided by the Fortnightly and Markeim. Participants will design and build their LEGO pieces at home and bring them to the Fortnightly to be judged on creativity.
The second part of the challenge will be a speed-building one where the person with the fastest time wins. Participants who register will be grouped by age and race each other behind blinders to build selected designs. LEGOS will be provided on site, and the blinders ensure a fair race, since contestants will not be able to see others’ work.
The last part of the challenge will be a blindfold build challenge, where participants will be trying to build a design without seeing the pieces.
Winners from each category will receive a prize.
“We felt like it was an opportunity for creative, artistic expression throughout the age groups, and then obviously all of the funds that are raised from the event will be split equally between the two nonprofits,” noted Megan York Parker, a spokesperson for Markeim.
The Haddon Fortnightly is a civic and social women’s club for women and a member of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs (NJSFWC) and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), according to its website.
“We are an organization that does a variety of events to raise money for events to give money back to the community,” McKenzie explained. “Our biggest event in the last few years has been the Snowflake Run, and it’s done the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.”
The Fortnightly’s history has included raising funds for the prevention of teenage suicide.
To learn more about the LEGO challenge, visit https://markeimartscenter.org/shop/art-of-the-lego-registration/.
