The Autism Society of Central Virginia (ASCV) is thrilled to announce that the 2024 RVA Duck Race & Festival of Inclusion, presented by CoStar, was a tremendous success. On Saturday, August 3, thousands of attendees, 55 exhibitors, and over 100 volunteers joined the ASCV community for a day of inclusive fun in the river city.
The RVA Duck Race and Festival of Inclusion was created as a model of the ASCV’s vision for a supportive and inclusive community where everyone impacted by autism is connected to high-quality support and resources. Through the support of sponsors, attendees, volunteers, and the RVA community at the event, the ASCV was able to raise over $232,000 in funds to support the critical programming and initiatives their organization provides for the local autism community.
Festival of Inclusion attendees were invited to explore a diverse range of engaging activities and experiences specifically designed to accommodate and celebrate individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. This year’s event included sensory-friendly signage at each booth to indicate the type of engagement and sensory impact. The Festival of Inclusion’s Sensory Zones offered extra layers of comfort and engagement for participants, with options for decompression, sensory play, and creative crafts, including spaces hosted by Spectrum Transformation Group, Mosaic Pediatric Therapy, and Dominion Care.
In addition to the Festival of Inclusion’s five zones of fun, attendees were able to enjoy live music and dance performances, try out local food trucks, and interact with their local characters including Richmond Flying Squirrels’ Nutzy and Nutasha.
The festive fun culminated as the RVA Duck Race began with attendees gathering to watch the exhilarating launch of 18,000 rubber ducks into the canal. Each duck purchase gave the purchaser one chance to win the race’s 10 prizes, including a Grand Prize of $10,000, sponsored by fas mart®. This year’s Grand Prize Winner was lucky duck purchaser, Skye Soderberg, who was the first winner to be present since the ASCV first began hosting the event.
“Our festival not only provides an opportunity for our local disability community to feel at home, but also welcomes everyone to experience and celebrate inclusion in action,” said Ann Flippin, ASCV’s Executive Director, “The connections made and the awareness raised will have a lasting impact on our community.”
The RVA Duck Race & Festival of Inclusion remains one of ASCV’s key annual events, crucial for raising funds and fostering community support to improve the lives of those in the autism community.
For more information about ASCV and future events, please visit www.ascv.org.
