The Red Shield Youth Center of Texarkana is inviting the community to “Give a Duck” for a good cause during its upcoming Hope Rush Fun-Raiser Duck Decorating and Duck Race event at Big Dam Waterpark on Saturday, May 30 at 3:00 p.m.
The family-friendly fundraiser will feature hundreds of rubber ducks racing down the park’s Lazy River, with community members able to adopt racing ducks starting at just $5 each. Participants can adopt individual ducks, groups of ducks, or even an entire flock to cheer on during the race.
Organizers are also encouraging local businesses, families, and community members to sponsor and decorate larger “Give a Duck” ducks for $100 each. The oversized ducks will be unveiled during the event and judged in several categories, including a People’s Choice award and selections by local celebrity judges. More than $500 in prizes and trophies will be awarded to the top entries.
The event serves a much larger purpose beyond the fun and competition.
All proceeds from the fundraiser will help provide scholarships for homeless and at-risk youth to attend after-school and summer programs through the Red Shield Youth Center at no cost to the families. Organizers say the programs provide a safe, supportive environment for young people during some of the most vulnerable times in their lives.
Community members are encouraged to decorate creatively, challenge friends or businesses to participate, and come out to support a cause designed to give local youth hope, stability, and opportunity.
For organizers, the message behind the event is simple:
“Give a duck. Give hope. Make a difference.”
