“The Bachelor” Ben Higgins and Fiance Lauren Bushnell

WARSAW — “It’s been a whirlwind week for us and I think now it’s going to start slowing down a bit. I’m excited to go to Denver, date her well, and just let this craziness kind of slow down,” Ben Higgins said before he and fiance, Lauren Bushnell started the tale of their “Journey to Love” and Q&A Friday night, March 25, at the Baker Youth Club’s Reality fundraiser.

While it’s been a wonderful experience Higgins said he would like to slow down and be able to take Bushnell out to dinner and be able to focus on just her. Not that he isn’t appreciative of the support he’s gotten from the community, “There’s just been a lot of people who have been very supportive, very caring, especially in this community, but there’s obviously elements to this that would be nice to slow down,” Higgins stated.

Before Higgins and Bushnell came to the stage, BYC Director Tracy Furnivall took a moment to thank everyone for their support and thanked those who helped sponsor the event. He presented plaques to both Higgins’ and Bushnell’s parents and regaled the audience with the history of the BYC and what it means to the community.

Higgins and Bushnell took the stage to speak on behalf of the organization and all that it does for the youth of the community. Higgins was a volunteer at the club when he lived in Warsaw and had this to say about the BYC,  “I really do miss coming in here (every day). This is a safe place. You walk in those doors, five days a week, and once you’re in the building, not only do you have a gym, a game room, a staff offering homework help, food and support, but you’re safe”

When Higgins and Bushnell finished the Q&A, the live auction started. The proceeds from the auction went to the BYC. Some of the auction items were; Lasik eye surgery, a Tahitian pearl necklace, a Hawaiian getaway, a Marco Island getaway, dinner with the couple and more. Event sponsors included; Zoyo, Dairy Queen, Noa Noa, The Bowen Center, Miller’s Health Systems, to name just a few.