Buy a duck, test your luck!
Rubber ducks will race down a waterslide for a chance to win cash prizes during Southeast Nebraska Court Appointed Special Advocates’ upcoming Duck Dash fundraiser.
The fundraiser is scheduled Thursday, July 30, at 8:20 p.m. at the Seward Dowding Municipal Pool in partnership with Seward Kiwanis, which is hosting a free swim night from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
People can purchase numbered ducks for the race, with one duck costing $5, five ducks costing $20 and 10 ducks costing $40. Scan the QR code with this story to purchase ducks. All money raised will support Southeast Nebraska CASA.
At 8:20 p.m., the ducks will be released from the top of the waterslide and race to the bottom.
Judges will determine which duck finishes first, second and third. Those winners will receive cash prizes of $1,000, $750 and $500, respectively.
After the race, 10 random "lucky ducks" will be selected. Five of the winners will receive $100 each, and the other five winners will receive $50 each. Community sponsors funded the prizes.
People are welcome to watch the Duck Dash, but winners do not need to be present to win.
"To see a rubber duck going down a slide is just fun for kids, and we support kids," said Southeast Nebraska CASA board member Taylor Jensen. "Anything that can bring a smile to any family space is fun, and it's just an easy fundraiser to get involved with. There's no extra commitments or anything that go with it."
Southeast Nebraska CASA decided to host this type of fundraiser after nearby CASA programs found success with it, according to Executive Director Shelby Pedersen. She said Southeast Nebraska CASA has already raised more than $2,500 through duck sales.
The organization serves Saline, Seward, Jefferson and Thayer counties. It trains volunteers who are then paired with children who are wards of the state or in the foster care system. Volunteers become familiar with a child's situation and advocate for them throughout their court case.
Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers are sometimes the only constant person in a child's life through their abuse and neglect court case, Pedersen said.
"We really support kids at the time that they need a trusted adult that is non-wavering," Jensen said. "Having a stable adult just really helps those kids be able to feel supported, have someone that they can trust to talk to and it just really gives them a sense of peace and comfort, even though they're going through probably one of the most difficult times."
Supportive relationships like these are connected with positive outcomes in children's future endeavors. According to Pedersen, children who have a CASA volunteer are statistically less likely to re-enter the system and more likely to graduate from high school.
Anyone interested in becoming a CASA volunteer can visit Southeast Nebraska CASA's website and fill out an application or email Pedersen at director@southeastnebraskacasa.org with questions.
The Duck Dash comes as CASA works to offset recent federal and state budget cuts.
Pedersen said fundraising is essential to the organization's ability to continue serving children, and community support makes its mission possible.
"Being able to fill those funding gaps allows us to provide advocacy for kids to give them a voice in court and make them feel like they have a say in what's happening in their life," Pedersen said. "We can't do that without funding."
