Delaware Water Gap – With the green flag waved, over 20 kids in gravity-powered cars came barreling down the ¼ mile stretch of road in Delaware Water Gap hoping to pass the finish line first. It was the third annual Downhill Soapbox Derby. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates for the third year sponsored the trophy portion of this children’s event.
“It’s our 3rd Annual Downhill Soapbox Derby. It’s for kids 8 to 12.” said Michael Miller the events organizer. “We have 64 kids participating this year.” “To have Tom and his group of Realtors involved in it again as sponsors is something that we continue to appreciate.”
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates have been active in children’s events for over 15 years. During their company history they have been major sponsors of FADS–the Fine Arts Discovery Series for children which had musical events at various locations that they participated in on a regular basis. The company also sponsors children at the Holiday time through a number of public and private organizations.
Said Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO, “Being down in the Gap brings a lot of memories–in 1969 I had the only leather shop in Delaware Water Gap and it was myself (along with Michael Miller, this event organizer) that went to the Chamber of Commerce as hippies back in those days and organized the first annual jazz festival. That event is still going on today. I think it’s in its 37th year.”
The race was an all day event and each of the 20 cars had their own corporate sponsor plus they had the race sponsors themselves which were Doc and Rose Mattioli, owners of Pocono International Raceway.
Unfortunately, Doc was unable to make the event this year, but to see children race in soapbox derby style cars was an event just as exciting as the Pocono 500.
The event takes about 30 volunteers, some of them being community members and others who just wanted to help out with the event. No one went home empty handed. In addition to having a unique experience to write about in their “what did I do over my summer vacation” essay, each child got parting gifts. The big prize for the event was a mountain bike.