Duck, duck, elk: Ormond Beach Elks host third annual Duck Drop fundraiser

The Ormond Beach Elks Duck Drop fundraiser continues to be lodge’s biggest event of year.

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 3:00 p.m. September 24, 2025
  • Ormond Beach Observer
  • Neighbors
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Over 2,300 ducks boarded a Tomlinson Aviation helicopter on Saturday, Sept. 20, in preparation for the third annual Ormond Beach Elks Duck Drop.

Pilot Joe Horton flew from the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport and hovered over the drop zone located in the Elks parking lot at 285 Wilmette Ave. Shortly after 1 p.m., the ducks were released, some ricocheting off the lodge rooftop and eventually landing on the ground with the others.

Joe Brozyna, who is in his second year as exalted ruler for the Ormond Beach Elks Lodge 2193, said the duck drop is one of the lodge’s biggest events. He praised the dedicated event committee, with Stephen Searle III at the helm this year.

“I know we’ve sold a lot more ducks this year than we have in previous years,” Brozyna said. “So I’m hoping to see a pretty significant increase in how much we’ve made for charity.”

A single duck sold for $5, a five-pack for $20 and the 30 “lucky duck” pack was $100. The purchasers whose ducks landed closest to the bucket in the drop zone would take one of the top three prizes — first prize $500, second $300 and third was a ride in a Super Petrel seaplane.

This year, people had the opportunity to grab a bite to eat and listen to a variety of music played by DJ Mick Kauffman outside. Philly cheese steak was added to the menu and prepared with the traditional fixings by Elks’ grill master Robert Berardi. Ormond Beach City Commissioner and current Elks trustee Harold Briley acted as a food server. Tickets could be purchased to dunk a favorite Elk or participate in the 50/50 raffle. Everyone could buy an event T-shirt from Greg Dorsey, owner of Lightning Apparel, with $5 from each shirt being donated to the Elks.

We always do service for the Elks because the Elks are awesome. They give back to the community all the time and so girl scouts works in conjunction with them to give back to them. That’s one of our ways to give back to the community." — DANA ALLEN, Girl Scout troop leader

Eventgoers could also head inside to join a cakewalk, choose their favorite Chinese auction basket or grab popcorn-filled bags, chilled lemonade and an ice cream sundae. Girl Scout leader Dana Allen brought her troops, 709 and 825, to host a variety of games and fun activities for kids.

“We always do service for the Elks because the Elks are awesome,” she said. “They give back to the community all the time, and so Girl Scouts works in conjunction with them to give back to them. That’s one of our ways to give back to the community.”

Searle participated in all three duck drops. The first year, he parked cars, and, in the second one, he was a cook. He is hoping to take over as exalted ruler next year, so he became the committee chairman to show he was capable of stepping into a position of leadership.

“I just hope it continues to grow,” he said. “I think (its success) was due to the volunteers. We had a lot of great volunteers. I would probably do it differently next year — try to break things out a little better so they have specific things to take care of.”

Brozyna said money raised at the event will be split between multiple Elks charities. Two of the larger beneficiary programs are the Harry-Anna Investment Fund, which supports the Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services and youth camps, and the Elks National Foundation.

Beth Thiers has been an occupational therapist with the Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services for 25 years. They do no-cost occupational and physical therapy throughout the state of Florida, for kids with a variety of abilities and for families with a variety of income levels. She said it is all done in the community, either in home, or at school.

“So what’s wonderful about the Florida Elks is that we do not bill insurance and we do not bill any government programs,” Thiers said. “Our program is fully funded. It’s predominantly funded through various Elks organizations, such as this wonderful Elks Lodge that we’re at here today. We also have a trust fund that we draw upon that Elks will volunteer and put money into.”

ENF grants help the lodge support the Barracks of Hope, a homeless shelter for veterans in Daytona Beach. Each veteran transitioning to his or her own apartment will also be provided with a welcome home kit, which includes the necessities for moving into a new home. Brozyna said they will also utilize funds to continue sponsoring the Fun Time Bowlers, a special needs bowling league in Ormond Beach, and 20 kids from local foster homes. Every year the Elks reach out to local schools to find out which families need Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.

Searle said a big part of the duck drop is that it is also a membership drive — a way to get younger members and families involved with the Elks.

“We’d really like to get some younger people in,” he said. “We want to get new members because it has a stigma of being a place to play bingo and old people. We do so much for the community and we just have this reputation. I’d really like to change that.”

 

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