Paulie Dean with his scooter and friends. From left, Kari Kidd Teresa Dunn, Korbin Kidd, Amber Haynes, Kristina Hammond and Lisa Williams with Dean on his new scooter. [Photo by Susan DeVilder]
Paulie Dean, also known as Kewanee’s Candyman, was surprised with a candy-colored scooter on Friday. Organizers of a GoFundMe campaign raised over $4,000 last month from the community in just a matter of days, and delivered the goods to Dean at a surprise reveal at Vega’s.
Lisa Williams, along with Amber Haynes, Teresa Dunn, Kristina Hammond, and Dean’s friends Kari and Korbin Kidd, kept the scooter purchase a secret. Williams said she researched to find the best option for Dean and planned a surprise party, complete with unfrosted cupcakes- Dean’s favorite.
Dean is well-known in town for selling candy bars in local downtown businesses and then donating his profits to charity. Over the years, he’s raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities such as Relay for Life. He also takes some of his donations and purchases toys for local kids.
The group decided to raise the money for Dean after learning that his scooter tires gave out. Dean was born with cerebral palsy and has a difficult time walking long distances.
Williams was able to find a bright red model with four-wheels, lights, rearview mirrors, turn signals, a seatbelt, cargo space, a horn and even mud flaps.
“We got him everything he wanted,” Williams said.
The scooter even comes with a five-year warranty, which Williams chipped in for. And enough money was raised to buy Dean a new pair of shoes, which Williams said he refused to buy for himself.
“Instead he wanted to buy candy and toys for Easter to hand out to kids at the gas station.”
Williams, along with Dean’s friends, lured him to Vega’s with the promise of a money drawing, but when he got there, Dean was presented with his new scooter, which he immediately took for a test drive, honking his horn as he zoomed down the road.
“I want to thank you all. I really love it,” Dean said after seeing his new ride. “There’s a lot I wish I could say. Nobody knows how much I really do appreciate it.”
The scooter was purchased for about $2,800, Williams said. But she also purchased a new wagon for Paulie to put his candy in, an umbrella to keep him dry in the rain and other accessories to make his candy selling easier. A decal that reads “Candyman” that she purchased from Amazon will be applied to the scooter, as well.
“It literally makes my heart happy. I needed something happy in my life right now and this did it,” said Williams after seeing Dean’s reaction to the surprise.
The scooter is equipped with lots of bells and whistles, and it will take a little practice for Dean to master it.
“We’re going to have to give him a lesson,” said Haynes.
While it may take a few days for Dean to learn to operate, he was grateful to the community and to his friends who gave him such a gift.
“I really, really appreciate it,” he said. “It’s more than enough.”
