[Columbia, SC] - Riverbanks has once again teamed up with Operation Military Kids to offer free admission to children of deployed military personnel on Sunday, June 17. The Zoo hopes to provide a day of fun for kids who can’t celebrate Father’s Day with their dads.

“This is the least Riverbanks can do for the families who sacrifice so much for our country,” said Satch Krantz, executive director for Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. “Not only do we hope this day brings joy to the children, but we also hope it brings happiness to the soldiers who can’t be here.”

Military families with a parent deployed overseas must bring a copy of the parent’s deployment orders to receive free admission. The Zoo will also admit kids with moms deployed overseas for free on this day.

South Carolina's Operation Military Kids (SCOMK) program supports families and youth of military personnel, emphasizing outreach to families of deployed National Guardsmen and Reservists. SCOMK provides positive youth development programs and helps mobilize communities to support families of deployed members of the US Armed Forces. Staff from Operation Military Kids will have a booth set up inside the Zoo entrance with information about the organization and support programs for families.

Approximately 2,000 South Carolina National Guardsmen were recently deployed to Afghanistan – marking the single largest deployment of South Carolina National Guard Soldiers since World War II. Coupled with ongoing deployments of other units from the South Carolina National Guard and the Reserves, many children will not be with their fathers on Father’s Day this year.

Kids of deployed military personnel aren’t the only ones receiving free admission that day; Riverbanks will also offer free admission to all fathers. To further add to the celebration, Riverbanks members can extend their Father’s Day with a free movie night in the Botanical Garden. Held in conjunction with the Riverbanks’ Member Night Series, members are offered four private evenings throughout the month of June to experience the Zoo and Garden after-hours. Gather the family, smooth out a blanket and enjoy Walt Disney Pictures' The Wild in the amphitheater beginning at sundown. For more information visit http://www.riverbanks.org/support/membership.shtml.

The Zoo will be open from 9am to 6pm for the regular Father’s Day promotion.