Volunteers for Literacy rubber duck race winners Randy Hatcher, left, and Larry Haydon pose with their winning ducks and prize winnings. Hatcher, of Cornelia won first place and $500 dollars. Haydon, of Clarkesville, won second place and $300 dollars. Beth Thomas of Demorest, not pictured, won third place and $200 dollars.
A $10,000 matching grant helped Volunteers for Literacy feather their nest during the 4th annual rubber duck race held Saturday during Clarkesville’s Mountain Laurel Festival. Nearly 1,500 bright yellow rubber ducks made a splash in the Soque River at Pitt’s Park as they helped raise money for Volunteers for Literacy.
Johnny Bailey, interim coordinator, says he’s thrilled with the amount of money raised. “This year was special for us. We had a $10,000 matching grant available through the Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation, “ Bailey says. “The grant provided extra motivation to meet our goal of $10,000 dollars. Through the generosity of our sponsors and support of the community, we were able to meet our goal. The matching grant will bring our total raised to $20,000 dollars “.
Bailey says that all proceeds would be used to help fund their literacy programs in Habersham County.
The rubber ducks were “adopted” for a $5.00 dollar fee and had numbers on them matching the sold tickets.
The rubber duck race winners are:
1st place: Randy Hatcher of Cornelia, $500.00 dollars
2nd place: Larry Haydon of Clarkesville, $300.00 dollars
3rd Place: Beth Thomas of (city to come), $200.00 dollars
Volunteers for Literacy is a local non-profit United Way Agency
