Animal Adventure Park to host Third Annual Ava’s Little Heroes Benefit

Animal Adventure Park, the home of world-famous giraffes April, Oliver and Tajiri, will host the third annual Ava’s Little Heroes benefit on Sunday, Aug. 19. 

Ava’s Little Heroes, an annual event at Animal Adventure Park, was inspired by the support offered to park owners Jordan and Colleen Patch in 2016, when their infant daughter Ava suffered complications from brain surgery. 

An eleven-day intensive care stay, plagued by uncontrollable seizures and fevers, prompted a new diagnosis – Ava had a rare form of Epilepsy called Aicardi Syndrome. She endured daily seizures that hindered her development until a successful, life-changing surgery in October 2017. 

Ava has been seizure-free ever since, and making incredible progress. She will always be Colleen and Jordan’s little superhero.

The support from around the community throughout Ava’s tumultuous health journey flooded the hearts of the Patches. They’ve decided to pay it forward by holding an annual event in their daughter’s name to raise awareness and funds for selected local children battling serious medical issues.

“No words will ever be enough to thank this community enough for the kindness and generosity they showed my wife and I when our Ava needed it most. It’s our hope that the families we’ve selected this year will feel that same level of love and support,” Jordan Patch, owner of Animal Adventure Park, said. 

Four children have been selected to benefit from this year’s event. 

The 2017 Ava’s Little Heroes benefit was a tremendous success, raising more than $42,000, which benefited several children. Those funds aided five families at the time of the event, and four emergency situations after the event.

The 2018 Ava’s Little Heroes event will run from 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will be filled with fun for the whole family. Proceeds from all fundraising opportunities and 50 percent of every admission on Sunday will be donated to the cause. Guests are encouraged to dress-up and explore the park as their favorite heroes. 

Animal Adventure Park would like to thank the many generous local businesses who have donated their time and services to make this fundraising effort a success, including UHS, who is a major sponsor of Ava’s Little Heroes 2018.  

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