BEND, OR -- After introducing online sales, this year, the 27th annual Great Drake Park Duck Race shattered previous records, Sunday, bringing in more than $110,000 for local charities. The four Rotary Clubs in Bend sponsor the Duck Race, which sends thousands of rubber ducks floating down the Deschutes River, in partnership with local Credit Unions.
Kyle Frick, with Mid-Oregon Credit Union, tells KBND News, "Over the past three years, our sales have been $85,000, $89,000 and I think last year we were at $92,400. So, we didn’t just go through $100,000, we busted through $100,000 in ticket sales. It’s just a great tribute to the community and how generous people are. That’s a big number to go over $100,000 in one year."
For the first time, participants were allowed to purchase a duck online. Frick says about $6,000 in tickets were sold
through the new website. A
nother $3,000 came in at Sunday's event in Bend. "We’re really excited with the results this year. And, really had a good showing in the park, as well; lots of people showed up this year, so it was a great event. And, we had record sales, so that’s going to benefit a lot of local nonprofits in the community."
Proceeds from this year’s Duck Race will be divided among eight local nonprofits, including Mountain Star Family Relief Nursery, the Bethlehem Inn, Abilitree and CASA. "There’s a formula based on the club sales- because each [Rotary] club chooses their own charities. And each club has a different level of giving – like the Greater Bend Club gives to three different charities; another club might give to one. So, it depends on how many people, and then the divided split of the proceeds," says Frick.
Click HERE for a list of the 2016 Duck Race winners.
