Photo Credit: Courtesy of Fred VanFossen
Do you ever dream of creating the one perfect event that generates revenue, raises awareness for your organization, creates excitement for the staff members who work on it, and most importantly, is so popular it sells out every year? That dream became a reality for the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department in Indiana with the Amazing Race.
Now in its 7^(th) year, the success of the race is so widespread that organizer Patti Davis receives monthly calls from all over the country, and even as far away as Australia, inquiring about the logistics of the race!
“The idea came from a fellow employee,” Davis says. “She convinced me to try it, although I’d never even watched the show. I still don’t.” Two local radio deejays volunteered to help with the planning. “These guys were such Amazing Race gurus they’d considered trying out for the network show.” Besides sponsoring and helping with the challenges, the deejays promoted the event on the radio and emceed during registration and the after-party. Their banter motivated the 200 competitors so much that they literally broke the door hinges as they burst through to start the race!