Fundraising for Inclusive Playgrounds and Camp Millhouse
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Mishawaka Lions Club, in conjunction with our Presenting Sponsor – Michiana Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, is hosting the inaugural Lucky Duck Dash June 30th on the St. Joseph River. 5,000 rubber ducks, representing donations toward accessible and inclusive playground equipment in our parks and capital improvements at Camp Millhouse, will flow down the river.
Adopt a Duck now for your chance to win the $1,000 Grand Prize or one of the many additional prizes from local businesses.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Camp Millhouse is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, residential summer camp for children and adults with varying disabilities. We offer spring and fall camp weekends, multiple one-week-long residential and day camp sessions and additional opportunities throughout the year. Our campers come from all across the country for the unique opportunities that Camp Millhouse provides.Read more…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There are play spaces that meet playground accessibility ADA compliance requirements but fail to be truly inclusive. Accessible playgrounds are simply those that can be accessed by people with special needs. They may include playgrounds that permit children in wheelchairs to access some or all of the playground equipment, for example.
Inclusive playgrounds are created for everyone — including children with no known special needs. Truly inclusive playgrounds allow children of all different ability levels to play together. Read more…
As with every Lions Club fundraiser, 100% of every dollar raised goes to charitable causes. All administrative and overhead expenses are always covered by members through dues.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2018
Unfortunately, the Mishawaka Lions Club had to cancel the actual racing of the ducks down the river for our first annual Lucky Duck Dash. Our team which had coordinated the downstream collection of the ducks determined it was unsafe to do so after traversing the river and initially deploying our system for capturing the ducks. The water levels are much higher than normal, the flow of the river is much faster than expected, and we ran the risk of putting people in harm’s way. There was also the environmental and financial concern of losing 5,000 rubber ducks downstream to Lake Michigan. We had planned for rough conditions, but they were more extreme than we had imagined.
The Lucky Duck Dash volunteers attempted to shift the launch and collection of ducks at the decorative river channel along Beutter Park, as it is a more controlled environment, but again, with faster and deeper flows than normal, and the inability to navigate boats into that channel, we called the event off after one of our members was injured trying to deploy and secure our nets for capturing the ducks.
Per the official rules posted to our event website:
"– In case of inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances that prevent the launch of the ducks, prizes will be presented through a random drawing."
To be as fair and transparent as possible, we will enter all serial numbers into a randomization software to choose the winners. This is not nearly as exciting as seeing and experiencing the ducks going down the river, but it ensures equity in opportunity to win the grand prize and subsequent prizes. We will be performing the drawing this Thursday (July 5th) at noon. We will announce the winners that afternoon and contact them directly via the information provided on their entries.
While we understand the frustration of those who purchased entries, no one is more disappointed than us. This event was more than 5 months in the making with planning, securing the proper permits, purchasing supplies, developing marketing materials, coordinating sponsorships, recruiting volunteers, selling entries, and even numbering all 5,000 ducks by hand. This was in addition to transporting, setting up, and manning the event all day Saturday. Although our official rules provided for unforeseen circumstances, we hate that we must now rely on that provision and will do everything within our power to ensure a successful event in the future.
The Mishawaka Lions Club and the Lucky Duck Dash team would like to thank everyone who purchased an entry. Your support, and the proceeds from the event, will still go toward Camp Millhouse and accessible playground equipment in our parks. We will still have a grand prize winner, several subsequent winners of gift cards and prize packages, and we will successfully host this event in the future with a more robust system in place.
We also want to extend our gratitude to our sponsors and the many volunteers who committed their time, energy, and enthusiasm to this event.
Thanks,
Bryan Tanner
Mishawaka Lions Club
Lucky Duck Dash Event Chair
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Camp Millhouse is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, residential summer camp for children and adults with varying disabilities. We offer spring and fall camp weekends, multiple one-week-long residential and day camp sessions and additional opportunities throughout the year. Our campers come from all across the country for the unique opportunities that Camp Millhouse provides. Read more…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
There are play spaces that meet playground accessibility ADA compliance requirements but fail to be truly inclusive. Accessible playgrounds are simply those that can be accessed by people with special needs. They may include playgrounds that permit children in wheelchairs to access some or all of the playground equipment, for example.