Friends of Danada to Host "Derby Day at Danada" Fundraiser

Wheaton, IL—March 20, 2008—The non-profit group Friends of Danada and Danada Equestrian Center volunteers invite the community to support their first "Derby Day at Danada" fundraiser and auction May 3, 2008 at the Danada Forest Preserve in Wheaton, IL.

Kids' activities, food, horse exhibits/ demonstrations, wagon rides, and silent auction will culminate with the telecast of the 2008 Kentucky Derby Race. Tickets are $25 per adult and $10 per child 12 and under.

The family oriented event will run from 1 pm to 6 pm in the infield of the Danada Race Track at the Danada Forest Preserve, the east side of Naperville Rd. The track was once used by the property's original owners Dan and Ada Rice to train their race horses and serves as the perfect venue for traveling back in Danada history to the glory days of the Rice's Derby winner Lucky Debonair. Memorabilia from those days will be on exhibit.

Come watch "Smokey" the mustang paint his own original art, bid for a hand print on the magic white horse "Crystal", "stick" a tail on "Dolly" the Belgian mare, run your own Kentucky Derby stick pony, or treasure hunt in the Danada straw play pen. Plus horse demonstrations, wagon rides, barn tours and more.

The Silent Auction bidding takes place from 2 pm to 3:30 pm. Food is included in the ticket price topped off by the 5 pm viewing of the Kentucky Derby.

The Saturday afternoon fundraiser replaces the volunteers' annual Fall Festival fundraiser, which is the Center's major revenue producer for its non-profit horse fund. The fund is used for special horse needs and initiates advancing the Center's educational value to the community. The funds are held separately from DuPage Forest Preserve District's budgetary support and reside under the non-profit status of Friends of Danada.

Since its establishment in 1984, the Center and its volunteers have been committed to filling the niche of horsemanship education in the Chicago land area. Community oriented projects on the docket for 2008 fundraiser support include expansion of the Kids' Summer Camp Scholarship program, which is geared to support financially needy children who want to attend the Center's week long holistic horse programs; configuring a horse skeleton for educational & horsemanship training; supporting the birth and training of two foals expected this spring; and the purchase of equipment to enhance the educational experience for the public.

Over 140 volunteers work with a small staff at the Center to maintain the facility and assist with horsemanship lessons, trail rides, summer camps, barn tours, and wagon/sleigh rides. "Derby Day at Danada" will be Friends of Danada and the volunteers' 14th fundraiser. Twenty-eight horses live at the Center, all donated or purchased through fundraiser money. Visit www.danada.info to learn more about the Center and the fundraiser.

Tickets may be ordered by mail with check to Friends of Danada and sent to the Center's office at 3 S 507 Naperville Rd., Wheaton, IL 60187 or by calling the office at 630-668-6012 for reservations. Auction items for donation may be shipped or dropped off at the Center's office or by calling the office for volunteer pickup arrangements.