SIDNEY — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County held its 13th Annual Duck Derby and Duck-N-Run 5K, at Tawawa Park in Sidney, on Thursday, June 20.
The Duck Derby had 2,571 ducks “adopted” by community members and local corporate sponsors. Due to recent rainfall and increased water levels at Tawawa Park’s Mosquito Creek, this year’s Duck Derby winners were chosen randomly and announced via Facebook Live.
Thirteen prizes were awarded for the Duck Derby, including the $1,000 grand prize, which was awarded to winner Edwin F. Nickol Inc. in Versailles. The business donated its winnings back to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Other prize package winners included Birdie Gambrel; Ken and Lynne Timmerman; Dianne Wooddell; Rick Eilerman; John Ahrens; Matt Stager; Kenjoh Outdoor Advertising; Kim Rehmert; Mantor Auto & Truck Repair; McCrate, Delaet & Co.; and Becky Puthoff.
New to the event this year was the addition of a Defender of Potential Duck drawing. Just 250 of the Defender Ducks were offered for sale, which increased the odds of winning a $500 cash jackpot. The Defender of Potential Duck winner was Kent Craver, of Sidney.
Prizes were donated by Meyer’s Garage & Drive Thru, African Safari Wildlife Park, Newport Aquarium, Cincinnati Zoo, Cedar Point, Kings Island, Snow Trails Ski Resort, Cleveland Monsters, Mad River Mountain/Avalanche Snow Tubing Park, Cincinnati Reds, University of Cincinnati, Akron Rubber Ducks, Lake County Captains, Dollywood, Alcatraz East Crime Museum, Cassano’s Pizza, Rapid Fired Pizza, Hot Head Burritos, JT’s Brew & Grill, Fort Loramie Dairy King, Morrie’s Ice Cream, Buffalo Wild Wings, Casey’s General Store, Culver’s Ice Cream, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Holden Forests & Gardens, Great Lakes Science Center, Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, Cleveland Browns, Gillespie Construction, Carty’s Bike Shop, National Museum of the Great Lakes, Garst Museum, Beach Waterpark, Brethren Retirement Community, Carillon Historical Park, and Scene 75.
The Dannon Company, Freshway Foods, and Sidney Foodtown contributed yogurt and fresh fruit for the event.
The Duck-N-Run 5K had 202 registered participants. Results can be found at www.cantstoprunningco.com. Plaques were awarded to the top three male and top three female runners overall.
This year’s major sponsors included 105.5 TAM FM, Edison State Community College, Ferguson Construction Company, J & J Enterprises, Kenjoh Outdoor Advertising, Kiwanis Club of Sidney, Sidney Body Carstar, Temperance Lodge No. 73 F & A M, The Early Bird & Blue Bag Media, Troy Carstar. For a complete listing of sponsors, visit www.bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org
Proceeds from the event will benefit the local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency. The BBBS mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally-supported, one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
Their vision is for all children to achieve success in life. The agency offers five separate programs including Community-Based Mentoring, Couples Mentoring, Big Buddies, Lunch Buddies, and Career Quest.
All of the programs match a child with a volunteer mentor. All volunteers are screened thoroughly and meet with children at least two times per month to offer guidance, support, and positive role-modeling. Studies prove that children who spend time with a positive role model are more likely to become healthy, productive adults.
It does not take a great deal of time, money, or talent; the volunteers just need to care about children.
Community members who feel they don’t want to make a commitment of volunteering can help the agency in other ways. The agency is always looking for cost-saving ideas for activities that volunteers can do with their matched “Littles.”
In the past, companies and individuals have donated tickets to local events, sporting events, or hosted a special outing for the Big Brothers Big Sisters group.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a non-profit United Way member agency. If you would like to become a volunteer and help ignite, empower, and defend the potential of a young child, contact the local agency at 937-492-7611, 937-547-9622, or go to www.bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org for more information.
