Rubber Duck Regatta a huge success according to non-profits

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Rockwall Mayor David Sweet keeps the 2,300 rubber ducks at bay in fountains at the Harbor Saturday during the Rubber Duck Regatta. The ducks, which were sponsored by individuals, "raced" own the fountains. Emma Mills

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September 29, 2012

Rubber Duck Regatta a huge success according to non-profits

Event raises $30,000 for Boys & Girls Club, Meals on Wheels

By Caleb Slinkard Herald-Banner Staff The Zope Gazette Sat Sep 29, 2012, 05:11 AM CDT

ROCKWALL — The first Rockwall Rubber Duck Regatta grossed approximately $44,000 according to Rockwall Boys & Girls Club CEO Misti Potter, $30,000 of which will be split between the Boys & Girls Club and Meals on Wheels and Senior Services of Rockwall County.

“It was incredible,” Potter said. “I don’t have enough adjectives to give you about the success about the event.”

The regatta featured 130 vendors, while 300 individuals participated in the 5K that morning along the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard.

But the highlight of the event was the duck race, where 2,300 ducks that were sponsored by individual donors floated down the Harbor’s fountains. 42 individuals won in the race, according to Potter, receiving prizes from iPads and Kindle Fires to gift certificates.

Taco Mayo won the corporate duck race, which featured much larger ducks sponsored by Rockwall compannies. Taco Mayo will now display the Golden Duck Trophy in their business until next year’s event.

Rockwall corporations worked diligently to decorate their ducks, often with a theme associated with their business. The ducks also competed in a pageant show.

The funds will allow the two Rockwall non-profits to continue serving their specific populations – children and seniors.

“The funding we receive will help us sustain our program, a program that has grown to serve 170 individuals,” Meals on Wheels Executive Director Margie VerHagen said. “The event was perfectly timed. We’ve had to increase our fund-raisers after cutbacks on funding we received from the federal government. Event co-chairs Arianna Hargrove and Brenda Cross had volunteered with us in the past, so they were aware of the needs of our seniors.”

The funding will help the Boys & Girls Club with their academic programs and their goal to serve more students, Potter said.

“It’s our goal to make sure that the kids not only have fun, but complete their homework, receive academic tutoring, participate in our fitness program and continue with their character development,” she said. “Juvenile crime is highest from 3 to 7 p.m., and our focus is to get those kids into the club, make sure they’re doing something productive, and make sure they are getting the academic support they need to move to the next grade or graduate high school.”

According to Potter, there are preliminary talks about extending the event to two days, particularly for the vendor fair.

“Brenda Cross and Arianna Hargrove, the City of Rockwall, the Harbor, the committee– the list of everyone who had a hand in making it successful is so long,” Potter said. “For a first year event, I don’t think it could have gone any better.”

For more information on the Rockwall Boys & Girls Club, visit www.begreatrockwall.org. For more information on Meals on Wheels and Senior Services of Rockwall County, visit www.rockwallmow.com.