APO members launch the ducks into the Kishwaukee.
Three thousand rubber ducks were tossed into the Kishwaukee River this week.
The 13th annual Duck Race took place Sunday behind the WNIJ radio station. Despite the windy afternoon, students and families came out to show their support for Alpha Phi Omega and Safe Passage by taking part in the family fair and cheering on their ducks.
In addition to the actual duck race, there was also a fun fair which included a bouncy house, an egg toss competition, a “Pie an APO Member in the Face” event, music and food. The fun fair ended with the launch of the ducks in the river.
“Despite the wind and chilly temps, I had an awesome time at my first Duck Race,” said junior meteorology major and active APO member Will Wight, “and getting pied in the face was the cherry on top.”
The service fraternity has been raising money for Safe Passage since January through various events such as $10 haircuts at Hair Cuttery, numerous raffle baskets, online donations and, of course, selling rubber ducks. Each duck was numbered; the first to finish won an iPad for its owner while the owners of the following four ducks received cash prizes.
“(We sold) 3,000 ducks. I know that sounds like a lot of ducks but there are 20 ducks per sheet and we sold about 150 duck sheets,” said Tiffany Hervig, APO fundraising VP and coordinator of the Duck Race.
Alpha Phi Omega raised $4,500 for Safe Passage, a local organization that provides a range of services to victims of domestic and sexual violence.
“It has truly been an honor to serve on the EBoard of APO as fundraising VP for two years in a row,” Hervig said. “I couldn’t be more proud of (our chapter) Eta for helping raise money and awareness for Safe Passage.”
