The Samuel Dixon Family Health Center hosted its 23rd annual Samuel Dixon Duck Dash at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center on Sunday morning.
The Samuel Dixon Duck Dash is an annual event for the health center to continue to provide various types of health care for people who are uninsured or need help to afford insurance.
The morning welcomed all ages to the fun-filled festivities — and everywhere someone looked, a yellow rubber duck was in sight.
Gloria Mercado-Fortine, board president of the center, was excited for the day to get started and was dressed in her best duck-themed gear.
“You know, this is the Duck Dash, which is a huge deal, especially a well-loved event,” Mercado-Fortine said.
Mercado-Fortine also added that seeing the support of the community after all these years was special, too.
“Well, it means a great deal to me because I’ve been with the center for so many years. And actually, I have a personal connection because Samuel Dixon, the clinic was named in his honor, I went to school with his kids,” Mercado-Fortine said. “Yes, and we are, you know, lifelong friends and so I still see them and, it was, it’s been great. Samuel Dixon never got to see his dream and so we continued, a lot of great people over the years have really worked hard to make sure that the clinics were successful.”
Philip Solomon, CEO for the center, said the reason for the duck theme was because everyone, especially children, loves ducks.
“And as you can see, kids love ducks, you got duck things on the hats, we got inflatable ducks. So, it really is just, this is a family-friendly event, and really the ducks that are geared for the younger kids that get to enjoy the pool, really enjoy having ducks around,” Solomon said.
When asked why it was important to host this type of fundraiser, Solomon said the center wanted to do something that was different and unique.
“This is the only event like this in Santa Clarita. So, we’re very proud of that. That it is different and it really is an activity that kids get to enjoy being in a pool. We get to race, you know, this very unique race that we do,” Solomon said.
Solomon added that it is important for people to know where their money goes.
“But it’s really important because, you know, where the funds go and helping people access health care, particularly in this time where there are cuts to federal funding, cuts to medical, cuts to Medicaid, is going to impact a lot of the patients that we serve,” Solomon said.
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, made an appearance and said that this event is one of the most fun events of the year because it brings out everyone’s inner child.
“So just the event itself is really fun, but obviously the purpose of why we’re here today is what’s really important and that’s supporting Samuel Dixon (Family) Health Centers. And they do just an incredible job in our community supporting folks who, you know, are struggling to make ends meet, but everybody still needs health care,” Schiavo said.
Schiavo recalled a personal memory of when her father had cancer and the decisions that came with getting his treatments.
“Our family was struggling and, you know, to have to think about making that choice between whether you get cancer treatment for your dad or you pay to make sure that you have a roof over your head is an unbelievable question for people to have to try to decide. And Samuel Dixon (Family Health Centers) makes sure that people don’t have to make that decision,” Schiavo said.
One last thing Schiavo wanted to highlight about this event is that people do not realize that sometimes it’s their neighbors who could be struggling in trying to get health care.
“I think the most important thing is that right now, there’s a great, great need in our community, and I think sometimes people don’t realize that neighbors they would never imagine are struggling, are struggling,” Schiavo said. “And so, it’s, you know, for those who can step up, for those who can be supporting organizations like Samuel Dixon and the health care that they provide for those folks who can make, can make that effort now is the time to do it.”
The center had about 1,000 ducks participate in the races and raised the most money since beginning this event, Mercado-Fortine said.