Lisa Sygutek photo
Pass Herald owner Lisa Sygutek got ‘Ducked’ last Saturday. The playful blowups are a quirky ducking initiative, which involves placing inflatable ducks on people’s lawns and has become a fun and unique way to raise funds for the society’s programs supporting individuals with disabilities.
Nicholas L. M. Allen
Oct 16, 2024
Parent’s Survival Society Raises Funds with Ducking Fun in Crowsnest Pass
Shelly Jacques, president and co-founder of Parent’s Survival: Resource and Connection Society, shared how the organization’s latest fundraiser, a quirky ducking event, is making waves in the Crowsnest Pass area. The initiative, which involves placing inflatable ducks on people’s lawns, has become a fun and unique way to raise funds for the society’s programs supporting individuals with disabilities.
Jacques, along with her co-founder Jessica Nielsen, launched the idea as a way to engage the community while raising funds.
“It started as a crazy idea,” Jacques said, “I thought, wouldn’t it be fun if we could run around with giant ducks?”
The fundraiser allows community members to “duck” each other’s yards by donating $20 to the society. The ducks are placed on the target’s lawn for 24 hours, with the option to have them removed earlier. Some participants have embraced the lighthearted prank so much that they’ve requested to be ducked themselves.
“We’ve had a few laughs,” Jacques recounted, “The first few days were a test of patience with ducks blowing down the road in the wind, but once we got them anchored, it’s been smooth sailing.”
All funds raised from the ducking event are used to support programming and workshops in both the Crowsnest Pass and Jacques’ local area.
“Jessica and I have covered the costs for everything up until now, but this fundraiser is helping us expand our programs,” Jacques said.
These programs include events like International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) and support for families with disabilities who are facing financial difficulties during the holiday season.
This year’s IDPD event, scheduled for December 1, will invite the broader community to learn more about inclusion and support for people with disabilities.
“We want businesses and individuals to see how they can make their practices more inclusive,” Jacques said, adding that they are working on adaptive programming for both caregivers and individuals with disabilities.
Jacques also encouraged local businesses to get involved by sponsoring events or offering suggestions for new programming.
“We’d love to hear from anyone who has ideas for helping the disability community,” she said.
The Parent’s Survival Society’s ducking fundraiser has brought a fun and engaging way for the community to contribute to an important cause, while also raising awareness about inclusion and support for people with disabilities.