WARREN Packard Park welcomed children and families to the WNI Fall Fundraiser - 2025 Monster Mash on Saturday and Sunday, hosted by the Warren Neighborhood Initiative (WNI) and sponsored by Warren Family Recovery.

The free weekend-long event filled the park with a bounce house and yard games, with stations inside to paint pumpkins and play games.

"Seeing a kid laugh and seeing a kid smile, it kind of makes it hard to have a bad day. You come out here, you see these kids having fun, it kind of forces you to have a good time," said D'Andre Bowers, President & CEO of WNI. "It forces you to be happy, it forces you to be good because who wants to see the opposite?"

The event featured food, games, youth activities, wellness resources and a ceremony to honor the Warren JFK Boys Golf Team.

"The WNI Fall Fundraiser was created as a community response to the recent rise in violence and youth trauma in the City of Warren. The event’s mission was to use recreation, recovery, and family engagement as tools for healing and connection," said Bowers in a news release following the event.

With almost 700 in attendance, the event provided mental health educational resources to over 150 families in the community.

Two staff members at WNI are highlighted for directing the outreach that helped serve over 150 families:

  • Dr. Deborah Wason, Senior Clinical Director
  • Anthonette "Toni" Blake, Clinical Manager