Cedar Valley Hospice is proud to announce the return of its Release & Remember butterfly fundraising event on Sunday, Aug. 28 from 1-3 p.m. at the Waterloo RiverLoop Amphitheatre.

Last year, hundreds of guests came to celebrate and honor loved ones with the release of 1,000 live monarch butterflies near the banks of the Cedar River. Come and be a part of this exciting, free event, by joining staff, volunteers, families and supporters of Cedar Valley Hospice.

Starting at 1 p.m., enjoy the afternoon with a picnic lunch, children’s activities and musical entertainment by The Cedar Valley Big Band. There will be a short program at 2:30 p.m. and the release of 1,000 butterflies, supported through the donations of individuals, churches and business partners.

The Release & Remember event allows each of us the opportunity to not only remember, but celebrate the lives of those we love in a very special way. For each memorial or honorary gift of $25, a butterfly will be released. In turn, the donor supporting a butterfly will receive a keepsake certificate as a reminder of the day. If your gift is received before Aug. 15, your tribute’s name will be displayed at the event.

There will also be dedication days on Aug. 4 and Aug. 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Kimball Ridge Center, 2101 Kimball Ave., Waterloo, where you can come and dedicate a butterfly. T-shirts are also available for $10 at that time.

“We encourage you to take part and experience this special event by supporting one or a number of butterflies as a celebration of someone you love,” said Cedar Valley Hospice Development Director Chris Olds.

For more information or to dedicate a butterfly, visit www.cvhospice.org or contact Cedar Valley Hospice Development Associate Shannon Melcher at smelcher@cvhospice.org or 319.272.2002.