SIDNEY — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County held their 14th annual Duck Derby and Duck-N-Run 5K virtually Thursday Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
The Duck Derby had 2,492 ducks “adopted” by community members and local corporate sponsors. Due to safety precautions instead of having our Duck Derby & 5K at Tawawa Park’s Mosquito Creek, this year’s Duck Derby winners were chosen randomly and announced via Facebook Live. Twelve fabulous prizes were awarded for the Duck Derby. The $1,000 grand prize winner was Greg and Priscilla Wilt. Other prize package winners included Kathy Doseck, Ferguson Construction Company, Corey Eagle, Frank Thaman, Kelli McEldowney, Eric Ambos, Larry Holmes, S&S Management, Rachel Sailor, Versailles Savings and Loan and Molly Hay. All winners will be contacted to arrange delivery of their prizes.
For the second year in a row BBBS held the addition of a Defender of Potential Duck drawing. Only 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 Trisha Prenger.
Prizes were donated by Meyer’s Garage & Drive Thru, Gillespie Construction, Brethren Retirement Community, Hollywood Gaming, Snow Trails Ski Resort, Mad River Mountain, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County, Dayton Historical Society, Kings Island, Holden Forests & Gardens, Great Lakes Science Center tickets, Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, Columbus Blue Jackets, Graters Ice Cream, Cosi, Shadowbox Live, African Safari Wildlife Park, Cincinnati Zoo, Cassano’s Pizza, JT’s Brew & Grill, Fort Loramie Dairy King, The Caroline, Frisch’s Big Boy, Winans, Bob Evans, Double M Diner, Imagination Station and Vavoline.
The Duck-N-Run 5K was also virtual this year, with 60 registered participants. Actual results can be found at www.cantstoprunningco.com.
This year’s major Flock of Duck sponsors included 105.5 TAM FM, Auto Tech, Dave Russell CPA, LLC, Edison Community College, J&J Enterprises, Kiwanis Club Sidney, Koenig Equipment, Inc., Sidney Body Carstar, Temperance Lodge No. 73 F&AM, Troy Carstar and Ernst Sports. For a complete listing of sponsors, go to www.bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency. Their mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise or youth and our vision is for all youth to achieve their full potential. 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. Anyone interested in volunteering and helping ignite, empower, and defend the potential of a young child can contact the local agency at 937-492-7611, 937-547-9622, or go to www.bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org for more information.
