A business owner seeking to support Peninsula College nursing students through a donation to the 30th annual Great Olympic Duck Derby won a car for her efforts.
Angeline Parrish, owner of Banbury Corner Children’s Center of Port Angeles, won a 2019 Toyota Corolla from Wilder Toyota after buying $300 worth of duck tickets for the race on May 19 in Port Angeles’ Lincoln Park, when one of her 60 ducks crossed the finish line first.
It was the first time Parrish has participated in the Duck Derby, in which duck tickets are sold and the numbered ducks are released into the pond at Lincoln Park. The first 40 ducks to cross the finish line win prizes.
The top prize is a car donated by Wilder Toyota of Port Angeles, which has donated a vehicle to the derby every year for 29 years.
“A lot of my employees come from the nursing department” at Peninsula College, Parrish said, and she wanted to do something to help them.
The team that sold her the ducks, Release the Quacken — made up of Peninsula College nursing students – was the top-selling team this year, said Bruce Skinner, executive director of the Olympic Medical Center Foundation.
That team, which was led by Captain Lisa Sutherland, sold 3,945 ducks.
Overall 29,159 ducks yellow rubber ducks were in the race, bringing in an estimated $130,000 for the foundation, the organization that hosts the event and donates funds to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles and Sequim.
Parrish wasn’t present. She had traveled out of town for an appointment she said, speaking by cell phone, and several employees texted her about the win.
“I’m so delighted that there’s a way I can help support our town,” she continued. “I care for the children and do it inside a building so it was exciting to donate to the town in a way that takes people outside on a beautiful day.”
The number of ducks sold this year by OMC Foundation groups in Sequim and Port Angeles is the second most in race history, Skinner said, adding that this year the Sequim Rotary Club did not participate.
Four people have sold for all 30 years. In addition to Skinner, they are Gail Ralston, Edie Beck and Dick Kent.
The top seller for 2019 was Bill Littlejohn of Sequim who sold 2,601 ducks.
Ralston took second place with 1,767 ducks; followed by Gay Lynn Iseri with 1,266 ducks; Beck, 1010 ducks; Jim Leskinovitch, 895 ducks; Jean Hordyk, 893 ducks and Leslie English, 843 ducks.
Top individuals selling in Port Angeles were Larry and Sylvia Strohm, who sold 2,352 Ducks.
The Sequim High School Leadership Class sold 789 ducks. The money raised will be used to bring in mental health expert Jeff Yalden for a free presentation at Sequim High School at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Skinner said.
The overall sponsors of the race, attended by about 1,000 people, were the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and Seven Cedars Casino.
List of 2019 Duck Derby winners
Forty people won prizes in the main race at the 30th annual Great Olympic Duck Derby. The first 40 yellow rubber ducks to cross that line won prizes for their “adopted” owners.
Winners included:
1. Angeline Parrish — 2019 Toyota Corolla from Wilder Toyota.
2. Myron Wallner — $1,000 cash from 7 Cedars Casino.
3. Mark and Jan Fischer — Up to five nights stay at the Inn at Otter Crest on the Oregon Coast.
4. Lily Thomson — $500 cash from 7 Cedars Casino.
5. Trisha Haggerty — Makita cordless blower kit with batteries and charger from Angeles Millworks.
6. Vivian Elvis Hanson — Milwaukee M18 Fuel String Trimmer with battery and charger from Hartnagel Building Supply.
7. Warren Burgess Jr. — One pair of single/bifocal/progressive lenses from Bec’s Specs Optical Shop.
8. Stephani Gochnour — Five cases of Bedfords’ Sodas.
9. Carolyn DeSalvo — $200 sunglasses frame gift certificate from Bec’s Specs.
10. Cynthia Martin — $100 gift certificate from Bella Italia Restaurant.
11. Larry Kispart — $100 gift certificate from Thomas Building Center in Sequim.
12. Jacob Dalstra — Dinner for two at LD’s Woodfire Grill.
13. Tom Erickson — $100 gift certificate from Baskin Robbins.
14. Janet Hien — $100 gift certificate for Double Eagle or Stimie’s Bar Grill.
15. Michael Juskevich — $100 gift certificate at Starbucks.
16. Wendy Leskinovitch — $100 gift certificate at JCPenney, Sequim.
17. Steve Johnson — $100 gift certificate for Safeway.
18. Jim Wahlsten — $100 gift certificate for Over the Fence.
19. Aleta Edouart-Sorenson — $100 gift certificate from Swain’s General Store.
20. Stephanie Williams — $100 gift certificate from Applebee’s.
21. First Federal — $100 gift certificate from Bob’s Chevron.
22. Ronda West — $100 worth of gasoline at Lovell’s Shell.
23. David Fox — $100 gift card for Amazon.
24. Eru Gilbertson— Pedicure and manicure with Laurie Rinehart and five tanning sessions at Beauty and the Beach.
25. Jeff Gossaga — $100 gift certificate from Fiesta Jalisco.
26. Cliff Tassel — Wash and wax for a year at First Race Car Wash in Port Angeles.
27. Westport employee — Round trip to Victoria for two on M.V. Coho ferry from the Black Ball Ferry Line.
28. Davis Sand & Gravel — $75 gift certificate for AutoZone in Sequim.
29. Elizabeth Curbox — $75 gift card for Black Bear Diner in Sequim.
30. Fran Spencer — 29th Duck Race Anniversary Prize, $300 cash, from 7 Cedars casino.
31. Bob Petty — $75 gift certificate for Jese’s Famous Salsa House in Sequim.
32. Air Flo Heating — $75 gift certificate for A1 Auto in Sequim.
33. Dave Hildebrand — $50 gift certificate for Chestnut Cottage.
34. In memory of Carol R. Barker-Leon — $50 gift certificate for That Takes the Cake in Sequim.
35. Pat Elmer — $50 gift certificate for Oak Table in Sequim.
36. Katby Lyons — $50 gift certificate for Sergio’s Hacienda and Cantina.
37. Bill Alton — $50 gift certificate for La Belle Creperie.
38. Nancy Coon — $50 gift certificate for Mariner Cafe.
39. Albert Giersch — $50 gift certificate for Chestnut Cottage.
40. Blake Tile & Stone, Inc. — $100 cash from 7 Cedars Casino.
Three winners were announced in the Bub and Alice Olsen Very Important Duck (VID) Race.
This was an opportunity for businesses and individuals, including those from outside the Peninsula who do business with local companies, to purchase special VID ducks emblazoned with their logo for $300, $600 and $1,200 each.
The winners are:
1. Motor Oil Supply — $600.
2. Carolyn Pendergast, Go Sun Devils — $300.
