July 31, 2024
BY Sarah Voyles, Columbia Missourian — Young swimmers nervously waited with anticipation on Tuesday as they watched rubber ducks race down a winding waterslide. The winner would go home with a $500 prize.
Over 1,000 rubber ducks raced at the Albert-Oakland Family Aquatic Center as a part of the Day Dreams Foundation’s Duck Derby.
“This year, because of our 10 year anniversary, we wanted to go all out and make it a big community event,” said Joe Bradley, founder of the Day Dreams Foundation.
The Day Dreams Foundation strives to eliminate financial hardships in children’s extracurricular activities. The foundation was started in 2014 and, through donations and events, has been able to award scholarships and equipment to help children get involved in extracurricular activities.
“Any student who qualifies for free and reduced lunch qualifies to apply for a scholarship,” said Adonica Coleman, executive director of Day Dreams Foundation.
The Duck Derby was a fun way to help raise money for the foundation as well as to give back to the community. Event attendees were able to purchase rubber ducks that were then raced in five heats. Megan Langland’s rubber duck was the last duck standing and was awarded $500. Funds raised through the purchased rubber ducks will go back to the foundation to award more scholarships and equipment to kids.
“Our motto has always been ‘every kid deserves to be a star’ because we think no matter the kid’s circumstances they should get the chance to do the fun things most kids get to do and be able to get signed up for activities,” Bradley said.
The foundation has helped many kids since it was founded in 2014, but has also supported their parents. Amber Bussey’s two sons were awarded scholarships that helped them get involved in extracurriculars.
“Neither of my sons would have been able to participate in activities if it wasn’t for the organization,” Bussey said. “My oldest son just went to college on scholarships that he got because of Day Dreams, so if it wasn’t for him to participate in extracurricular activities he wouldn’t have been able to excel the way he did.”
To say thank you to all the Day Dreams Foundation has done for her family, Bussey volunteers her time to give back.
“I want to be here now and forever, this is where I see myself,” she said. “I reached out to ask where I can help them and really however I can give back, that’s how much it means to me.”