Are you creative? Competitive? Interested in helping people? Then Volunteers for Literacy of Habersham County is looking for you.
The nonprofit is seeking sponsors and racers for this year’s VFL Rubber Duck Race on the Soque River. The race will be held in conjunction with Clarkesville’s Mountain Laurel Festival on May 21. The winner will receive $1,000. The second-place prize is $500 and the third-place winner will receive $250.
“As the VFL Rubber Duck race enters its second decade, we are proud to be an event that caps off the day for Clarkesville’s Mountain Laurel Festival, which has entertained so many people for sixty years,” says Johnny Bailey now in his 11th year of serving as chair of the duck race.
Duck race tickets are $5 each, 5 for $20, or 25 for $100. Tickets are on sale now at vflhabersham.com and at the Cornelia and Clarkesville Libraries, A to Zinc Health Store and Smoothie Bar in Clarkesville, and at Elizabeth & Company in Clarkesville.
Dec-A-Duck
Businesses, individuals, neighborhoods, and schools are encouraged to help sponsor this year’s race. For $100, sponsors will be publicly recognized in race promotions and will receive a rubber duck to decorate for the Dec-A-Duck contest.
This 5th annual event will be judged during the Mountain Laurel Festival. Categories are Most Creative Duck, Best All-Around Duck, Best Children’s Book/Fairy Tale-Themed Duck, and People’s Choice.
The decorated ducks will be on display for community viewing at the Clarkesville and Cornelia Libraries from May 6 through May 20. Businesses may also have the option of displaying their Dec-A-Duck at their business.
Where your money goes
Proceeds from ticket sales and duck race sponsorships will go to support literacy programs in Habersham County including:
- The Dictionary Project which provides free dictionaries to all public school 3rd graders;
- District Scripps Spelling Bee;
- English classes for local immigrants, including childcare and transportation;
- VFL Book Bank which contains thousands of books that are given to underserved children throughout the year;
- Little Free Libraries of which VFL has built and installed 17 around the county;
- GED and HiSet scholarships;
- One Book Habersham – a 3-month-long community-wide reading event that concludes with a public appearance and presentation by the featured author.
“As we know, the ability to speak, read, and write is essential,” says Dr. Don Gnecco, VFL board president. “Volunteers for Literacy is continually striving to reach our goal of 100% literacy in Habersham County so that everyone can successfully participate in and contribute to our community. It takes all of us, together.”
VFL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All ticket purchases and sponsorships are tax-deductible.
To sign up as a sponsor of this year’s duck race or for more information, call 706-949-3157 or email [email protected].
