It will be raining golf balls Sept. 1 in Conway.
The 11th annual Independent Living Services Golf Ball Drop will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. at the driving range of Centennial Valley Country Club, 1600 Centennial Valley Drive.
Tickets are for sale to buy numbered golf balls, said Robert Wright, director of development for the nonprofit agency in Conway.
“We normally get up in a hot-air balloon, … but this year, the Conway Fire Department agreed to come. They’re going to drop [the golf balls] from their ladder bucket,” he said. He estimated that 1,500 golf balls will be dropped.
The golf ball that hits closest to an X marked on the driving range will win $2,016, he said. A couple of consolation prizes will be given, too, Wright said.
Golf balls are $10 each, or three for $25, seven for $50 and 20 for $100. They can be purchased on the website, www.indliving.org, or by going to the Independent Living Services office, 615 E. Robins St. Tickets for golf balls can also be purchased the day of the event. Tickets require a name, email and phone numbers so participants do not have to be present to win.
“We’d love for them to be present,” Wright said, adding that it’s a festive atmosphere.
A bounce house for children will be available, as well as free hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, drinks and ice cream.
“This is more about having a good time,” Wright said.
Elissa Douglas, ILS executive director, agreed: “It’s a great event for ILS and for the whole community. It’s gotten to where the neighbors from Centennial Valley walk over and bring their kids. It’s a big family event, along with being a fundraiser.”
Wright said the event raises about $10,000 a year, and approximately $100,000 has been raised to date.
“The in-kind people are so great, and we have sponsors,” he said.
Douglas said proceeds from the event each year help provide transportation services that aren’t funded through the state.
Independent Living Services, which was founded in 1970, provides transportation to more than 200 people ages 18 and older — referred to as consumers — to and from the program each day, as well as to the grocery store, medical visits, movies, ballgames and other activities.
“We serve individuals with developmental disabilities who live in the community — help them live and work as independently as possible,” she said.
Some of the consumers work in the community through Community Access Supported Employment. The agency has classroom-type environments in areas such as computers, advocacy, home economics, arts, crafts, music, and health and wellness. ILS also provides occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy to consumers.
Douglas said she has been to all the ILS golf ball drops in the past decade.
“It’s going to be fantastic,” she said. “We want people to come out. We want people to learn about ILS and come and celebrate with us,” Douglas said.
For more information, contact Wright at robert@indliving.org or (501) 580-0098.
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.