The Great Duck Race returned to Drake Park for the 34th year, raising a total of around $96,000 for local charities and nonprofit organizations on Sept. 10, 2023. This fundraiser allows people to buy ducks for $5, the ducks are then floated down the Deschutes. Additionally, food carts, bouncy houses and more fun activities provided by Rotary distract the racers as their rubber ducks race down the river. The winning ducks get prizes and all sorts of treats.
The Rotary Club of Greater Bend is one of four Rotary Clubs in the area. Overall, Rotary is the largest service club in the world with 48,000 clubs and 1.4 million members. Rotary of Greater Bend is the largest group locally with 125 members and a goal to help the community as much as they can.
“Our emphasis is on seven areas of service; promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies and protecting the environment,” said Bruce Abernethy, member of the Rotary Club of Greater Bend since 2009..
Compared to previous years, this year’s Duck Race raised the most money. Local charities, including Furnish Hope, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, CASA, Neighborimpact, Saving Grace, MountainStar Family Relief Nursery and Education Foundation for Bend-La Pine Schools, stress how grateful they are and how much this money benefits their organizations.
