Fowl play: Rotary Duck Derby sells over 8,000 rubber ducks, raises $40,000

The Rotary Club of Graham Duck Derby made a splash at Fireman’s Park Saturday raising $40,000 for the organization to benefit nonprofits and causes supported by the club. Over 8,300 rubber ducks were sold for the event, with winners named for first, second and dead duck last.

Rubber ducks were dumped at the beginning of the pond at Fireman’s Park and raced to the end of the track into Salt Creek. Alice Ann Street won the first place prize of $5,000, and donated her winnings to Graham Meals on Wheels. Neil Pugliese won the second place prize of $500, John Halsell won the third place prize of $100 and Martha Bennett won the dead duck last prize of $250 and donated her winnings to Bethel Daycare in Graham. Despite not hitting the goal of 10,000 rubber ducks sold, Rotary Club of Graham President Grant Ingram said the event was a success.

“So we raised over $40,000 in adoption revenue (not accounting for expenses). (...) Part of that will go to the third-party groups that were helping us raise that money and then the remaining of that money will go right back into our community through the many different sponsorship opportunities that we have, or the many different nonprofit organizations that we are proud to support,” Ingram said. 

The derby itself provides the opportunity for nonprofit organizations, area youth sports teams, local school districts and other organizations to raise funding for themselves by selling rubber ducks. Ducks could be purchased at grahamduckderby.com, and when a duck was purchased a third-party organization could be selected to receive a percentage from the adoption of the duck.

For the full story, see the Wednesday, Sept. 21 edition of The Graham Leader.