In their most successful fundraising effort ever, the Greater Pamlico Area Chapter of the American Red Cross amassed an incredible $14,700 for area disaster victims, according to director Lorrie Beach.

    That 14,000 will provide shelter, food and clothing for almost 14 families of four who lose their homes," said Beach, triumphantly.

    Today, New Year's Eve 2009, as the clock struck noon, around 35 spectators watched as 1000 golf balls were dropped from a bucket truck onto a make-shift putting green at Warren Field Airport in Washington. The Red Cross was hoping to drop the balls from a helicopter, but the copter couldn't get clearance to fly out of New Bern, because, according to board chair Wayne Sawyer, the ceiling was too low.



    This may seem like an odd fundraising event, but the premise of the New Year's Eve ball drop was quite simple:

    Of the 1000 balls, 760 were assigned to good-will gamblers, who made donations of $25 per ball for a shot at a pot of money, and a guaranteed pat on the back from the Red Cross. The prize money was to be divided on a graded scale, from a portion of the proceeds, among owners of the three golf balls that fell closest to the hole.



    "Four-ninety-seven!" yelled Richard Beach, husband of Lorrie Beach, as he retrieved the only hole-in-one and read its number.

    But ball no. 497 was one of the 240 unsold balls!



    Sawyer said that the Red Cross wanted to sell all 1000 balls, but got the word out as best as they could for an inaugural event.

    "Next year, we want to sell 1200," said Mrs. Beach.

    "Next year, we will sell 1200," corrected Sawyer, with a confident smile.

    As the suspense hung in the foggy air at Warren Field Airport, and the spectators stood silently, Mr. Beach resumed his search for the winning balls.



    The owners of the next three balls closest to the flag were assigned to people not in attendance. In first place, with a win of $1850, was Mike Gordon. In second and third place, with slightly smaller payouts, were Sparky Travis and David Ipock, respectively.

    After the winning balls were announced, the crowd withstood the cold, dreary weather to laugh and chat around tables of donuts and beverages, provided by the Red Cross.

    In 2010, the Red Cross will start selling balls for the New Year's Eve ball drop on Nov. 1.

    "They make great Christmas presents," said Sawyer, who said his 11-year-old granddaughter appreciated receiving a Red Cross golf ball as a gift and "thought it was great to be able to give back to the community."

    The event was so successful that the Red Cross is even considering a Fourth of July ball drop, according to Mrs. Beach and Sawyer. So stay tuned!

    This article provided courtesy of our sister site: Beaufort County Now