Ducks sold out for education benefit

CRESTVIEW — The Foundation of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce has sold all 1,000 toy ducks for an upcoming race.

The race is 11 a.m. April 22 next to the Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive. Spectators may park and watch the ducks swim across the finish line. Auburn Water Systems has scheduled a water line test to coincide with the race; this will conserve water, according to a chamber foundation media release.

Local businesses that had ducks purchased for all their employees include Emerald Coast Aviation, Sunshine Aero, Inc.; Wise Equipment; Pounders Hawaiian Grill; Community Bank; Legacy Insurance; Auburn Water Systems; Farm World; Dr. Richard Thomas, DDS; Select PT; Publix; and American Elite Molding.

Emerald Coast Aviation donated the first-place prize of $500. The Paul Hsu Education Foundation provided the second-place prize of $250. For third- through 10th-place ducks, $100 each was provided by Okaloosa Gas; Publix; Hot Head Burritos; Dr. Richard Thomas, DDS; Friends of the Library; Bob and Peggy Hollingshead; Cal Zethmayr of WAAZ; and Eglin Federal Credit Union.

All proceeds go toward scholarships for technical certification education for graduates from Baker, Laurel Hill and Crestview high schools.

"We did have a lot of success of businesses buying ducks for their employees. They really liked the idea that it was for technical education, specifically, and we must have had at least a dozen businesses that bought ducks for all their employees," Dennis Mitchell, foundation board member, said.

"It's our first year we've done the technical certification type stuff and it's really gratifying to see the community getting on board with that."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Ducks sold out for education benefit