Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

The area division of the March of Dimes has set its sights this weekend on the 2005 Rubber Duck Regatta as a major fundraising event for the charity.
March of Dimes Keystone division director Debbie Pierce said, “We hope to raise $15,000 from selling little ducks. That’s pretty cool.”
The charity’s local division has organized the Eighth Annual Rubber Duck Regatta coming up on Sunday at DelGrosso’s Amusement Park.
A press release from the charity said, area businesses and organizations were invited to participate by offering tickets to their customers, employees and members for a donation of $5 each. Everyone who purchasing a ticket also received a limited edition 2005 Official Souvenir Duck. For each numbered ticket sold, a corresponding numbered duck is being entered in the big race.
This Sunday, 5,000 ducks will be taken to the top of the water tower and raced down the waterslide.
“People can come and watch for free, said Pierce. “It’s fun for the kids. When the ducks come down the waterslide everyone just screams.”
Those attending the event should arrive about a half-hour before the 3 p.m. start, according to Pierce.
The owners of the first eight ducks drawn from the pool by the charity’s Ambassador child will win prizes including a $1,000 shopping spree from Wolf Furniture; a high-quality bicycle from Eddie’s Bicycle Shop, State College; tickets for four to DelGrosso’s Amusement Park; Altoona Curve baseball game tickets and $100 in gas; two Penn State football tickets, courtesy of Josie Koll, a one night stay at the Solvang Bed and Breakfast, Huntingdon; George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Grill Courtesy of Kaufman’s; VIP wing party, courtesy of Hooters, Altoona and one dozen Krispy Kreme Donuts a month for a year.
The owners of the ducks need not be present to win the prizes.
During the campaign, ducks were made available at the following locations: M & T Banks of Blair County, Susquehanna Banks in Altoona and Bedford, Rossi’s Exxon in Tipton, Oak Spring Winery, Tipton Pharmacy, Hooters in Altoona, Knee Deep Ponds in Roaring Spring, Northwest Savings Bank in Johnstown, Somerset Trust in Johnstown and Ports Sports Emporium in Bellefonte.
Some locations reported they had already sold their allotment of ducks. A spokesperson at DelGrosso’s Amusement Park said as of Thursday afternoon the ducks were still available at Rossi’s Exxon in Tipton.
According to the press release about the duck regatta, The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. It was founded in 1938 and the agency funds programs of research, community services education and advocacy to save babies.
The March of Dimes was established in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to save young people from polio. The establishment and efforts of the agency helped in the development of the Salk polio vaccine, which was declared safe and effective in 1955.
With the defeat of polio, the March of Dimes changed course and began working on the challenge of saving babies from birth defects and other serious infant health problems.
The agency claims more than three million active volunteers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
The Keystone Sub-Division of the March of Dimes is located 12 Olde Farm Office Centre in Duncansville.
For more information, please call the March of Dimes office at 696-9691 or 1-800-258-4159. The national website can be found at marchofdimes.com.

By Rick