PORT ANGELES — The Olympic Medical Center Foundation’s first virtual fundraisers are this weekend: Hog Wild on Saturday and the Duck Derby on Sunday.
Like many other organizations, the foundation has had to adapt its events to the need for social distancing and other precautions against the COVID-19 pandemic, so the public will participate in fundraisers online.
The seventh annual Hog Wild event from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday will offer a barbecued ribs dinner and a bottle of wine takeout for $45.
People can pick up the meal at Coyote BBQ Pub, 201 E. Front St., the day of the event and enjoy the meal at home while participating in live and silent auctions online at omhf.org.
“We have close to 100 people” who have purchased tickets for the event, said Bruce Skinner, executive director of the Olympic Medical Center Foundation. “It’s close to what we normally have.
“People have already donated,” he continued, saying that, with the $20,300 already accrued, “it’s going to be our best year ever.”
Duck Derby time
Sunday’s Duck Derby will be a Duck Pluck.
Dan Wilder of Wilder Toyota in Port Angeles, which has donated the top prize of a 2020 Toyota Yaris; Ron Allen, CEO of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, event sponsor; and Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict, who is overseeing the proceedings, will draw rubber ducks from eight trucks, one for the Bub and Alice Olsen Very Important Duck (VID) event and seven for the Main Race.
The public can watch on livestream video at omhf.org as the ducks are drawn from trucks on the BMX Track at Lincoln Park instead of floating in the park’s pond in a traditional “race.”
The VID event will be at 1 p.m. and the Main Race will be at 1:30 p.m.
The first 40 ducks drawn will see their adopted “owners” winning prizes.
The change of venue was made to ensure the five people who will be collecting the ducks after the event can maintain social distance, and because the water in the pond is low, Skinner said.
“Sales are going well, considering,” he said. “We expect to do over $20,000, and we’re extremely happy with that.”
Sellers were fewer in number this year, as many who usually sell duck tickets did not want to do so in public places. Each duck ticket costs $6. For $30, adopters receive an extra duck, providing six chances to win.
Proceeds from the 31st annual Duck Derby will benefit the foundation, which has given nearly $5 million dollars to or on behalf of OMC during the past decade.
Hog Wild will raise money for OMC Cares, the program for OMC employees faced with emergency situations, and the OMC Children’s Clinic.
It will be sponsored again by Sequim Health and Rehabilitation, and Crestwood Health and Rehabilitation.
For tickets and other information, see omhf.org or call 360-417-7144.
