Kids Day America draws hundreds to support education, health, safety
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Hundreds of families on Saturday, May 13, participated in activities and learned about education, health and safety programs from a variety of organizations during the 23rd annual Kids Day America Butler event.
Held at the Butler Farm Show grounds, this year’s event benefited the Butler YMCA’s children’s programs. Money was raised from food sales and raffles of gifts, including several bicycles.
Sponsors had giveaways, nonprofit organizations had displays, volunteer fire departments brought firetrucks and officers from the county sheriff’s office and state police were on hand to speak with visitors.
Children’s Empowerment Awards were presented to three people for their efforts to support children. The awardees were U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th; Jenley Birch, a retired Butler schoolteacher and Kids Day volunteer; and Keith Graham, vice president of advertising for the Butler Eagle.
Kelly was honored as a dignitary for supporting legislation such as the Parents Bill of Right bill that increases parents’ involvement in their children’s education. Birch was honored as the outstanding Kids Day volunteer and Graham was honored as the outstanding business volunteer.
“We picked three individuals in those categories that are community servants and have served in a capacity to help children,” said Stuart Surkosky, D.C., of Care Chiropractic Center in Renfrew, the event’s primary sponsor.
Money raised at the event will support the YMCA’s annual campaign and go toward programs that support children and families, said Christina Dreher, YMCA development director.
Programs ranging from swimming lessons to day camps to youth mentoring will receive funding, Dreher said. People who attended the event also could sign up to receive discounted YMCA memberships, she said.
The event also included music and a variety of food.
Barbara Jurysta, of Butler, came with family members to take a chance on winning a gift basket and “get some good food.”
Among the displays were several spiders and snakes from the Moniteau High School Creepers and Crawlers Club. The students brought a python, a hognose snake, blue-tongue skink lizard, tarantulas, a scorpion, millipedes and cockroaches.
Most of the critters were rescued and are kept at the school during the school year, but students take them home to care for them over the summer.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources brought hides from game animals found in the state. including a black bear, coyote, bobcat, fisher, mink, ermines, raccoon, otter and a skunk.
