The
Rotary Club of St. Andrews is engaged, together with the Rotary Club of
Daniel Island, in the annual Charleston Rotary Duck Race. We drop
30,000 rubber ducks with individual numbers on them into the Wando River
in June of each year (June 8 this year) and the people who "adopt" the
ducks that are first to cross the finish line win cash prizes ranging
from $500.00 to $10,000.00. A total of $35,000.00 in cash prizes will
be awarded. And if an "adopter" is really lucky they could win
$1,000,000.00!
Rotary
International is a great organization, supporting local charities as
well as international missions such as polio eradication worldwide which
is expected to be accomplished this year. There are over 1.2 million
members in over 34,000 clubs in more than 200 countries. Our club of
fewer than 100 members holds the distinction of having the largest
scholarship fund of any Rotary club in the world. Each year we donate
$20,000.00 to deserving students West of the Ashley to attend South
Carolina colleges and universities.
Part of the donation from duck
adoptions will go towards this scholarship fund, as well as other
charities, including the Rotary Gift of Life program where Rotary clubs
bring children with debilitating heart defects to the US from developing
countries for pro bono heart surgery so they can return to their home
countries not just to live a productive life, but to live as they would
otherwise die from their heart defects.
