KCKidsFun

The time has arrived… there are 15,000 little rubber ducks ready to be adopted. They have trained for the race, and are ready to win you one of the many great available prizes! Each duck is also a chance at a $1 million cash prize. Every duck adopted will make a difference in the life of a child with special needs, as 100% of the proceeds from the Duck Derby benefit Children’s TLC.

What is the best way to adopt a duck? By dining at a restaurant in the KC Hopps family starting on May 27th! It’s a great way to kick off your long weekend… not only will you enjoy a delicious meal, you will be able to add your adoption right to your check. Your server will give you an adoption number that you register online*, and it’s as easy as that! Dine at any of these restaurants between May 27th and June 25th, 2011,  and be sure to tell your server that you want to adopt a duck.

KC Hopps, Ltd Restaurants and Breweries

75th Street Brewery (Waldo)
810 Zone (The Country Club Plaza, Leawood, Harrah’s Casino)
O’Dowd’s Little Dublin (The Country Club Plaza, Zona Rosa)
Barley’s Brewhaus (Shawnee, Overland Park)
Blue Moose Bar & Grill (Prairie Village, Overland Park)
Los Cabos (Leawood)
Wild Bills (Legends in Kansas City, KS)

*Your registration must be completed by 11:00 p.m. on June 25th for your adoption to be valid. If you do not register your duck online, then your adoption will be considered a donation to Children’s TLC. Visit Children’s TLC website to learn of other ways to Adopt a Duck.

RED Development’s Duck Derby benefitting Children’s TLC will take place this SUNDAY–June 27, 2010 on the Country Club Plaza’s Brush Creek.  The fun begins at 11:00 am and will include food vendors, a Kids Zone with inflatables, face and hair painting, performances by Funky Mama and the JoCo All Star Band, and much, much more. There will also be a special performance by the Jewish Community Center Theater as they showcase excerpts from their summer production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

What is Duck Derby, you might ask?  Imagine tens of thousands of rubber ducks floating down Brush Creek–all for a good cause!  The ducks are individually numbered and “adopted” with lots of cool prizes up for grabs. Prizes include Justin Bieber concert tickets, KC Hopps dining packages, original art by Mike Savage and numerous tickets to KC sporting and cultural events.  The “duck drop” is a sight your family won’t soon forget–they are dropped from a net suspended from a crane!

A duck adoption will cost you only $5, with online adoptions closing at midnight Saturday!  New this year is the option to adopt at area KC Hopps restaurants.  These include:  75th Street Brewery, Barley’s Brewhaus, 810 Zone, O’Dowd’s Little Dublin, Blue Moose Bar & Grill, Los Cabos and Wild Bill’s Legendary Steakhouse and Saloon.

A great afternoon on the Plaza for a great cause–the kids at our city’s own Children’s TLC preschool. Kate and I love this organization and wish everyone the best on Sunday!  Good luck.

You long-time readers know by now that there are two organizations which are especially near and dear to our hearts–Children’s Therapeutic Learning Center (CTLC) and Asthma & Allergy Foundation, Greater Kansas City chapter (AAFA).

Both help Kansas Citians–from all walks of life–in extraordinary ways.  I wanted to let you all know what AAFA has been up to and provide some contact information in case you or someone you know needs some help!  AAFA recently hosted its annual SuperKids Asthma Camp, and it was bigger and better than ever.  The day camp is for kids, diagnosed with asthma and allergies, entering 2nd through 7th grades, and it lasts one week.  In addition to being tons of fun for the kids, they are in a medically supervised environment and leave the camp feeling empowered and educated about how to take charge of their health.  The SuperKids spent some time at Kaufmann Stadium and also with Brett Anthony, meteorologist on NBC Action News.

AAFA’s yearly fundraiser is fast approaching!  Saturday, October 17, 2009, the Overland Park Sheraton will be transformed into “A Night in Monte Carlo”–featuring dinner, a lively casino party and an auction.  Tickets are still available!  Call Executive Director, Melissa Ford, at 816.333.6608 for details.

Looking forward, in March 2010, AAFA hosts its annual Family Asthma & Allergy Education Day. This is a fabulous interactive opportunity for local families and individuals alike to learn more about asthma and allergies.  This is the 15th year for the program…so you know it’s good!

We are proud to be one of  AAFA’s community partners and encourage you to check them out–and even volunteer!