Madison Avenue Soap Box Derby to Benefit FOCUS

From the Decatur Minute blog:

Returning for its fourth year, the Madison Avenue Soap Box Derby will hold its races this Saturday, Sept. 27.

Here’s a tentative schedule of events from the event website:

10:30 a.m. Registration OPENS: Teams arrive, sign in, wait for car inspection & park
Enter Madison Ave thru Johnston Place beginning at 10:30.

11:30 a.m. The judges will begin on the creative category. There are three judges and each will score on 2 of the 6 creative categories: most original, most creative, most humorous, best craftsmanship, best theme, best team spirit.

Noon U Joint & Steinbeck’s tent open (cash only) - Hot Dogs, Hamburger, Brats & Pimento Cheese Sandwich’s

12:20 p.m. Emcee- race introduction
1 Race begins (6 & under goes 1st)
1:30 Race begins (7-17)
2:35 Race begins (18 & up)
3:15 Race over & STAR judges determine winners
3:30 local band “MoRhythm” take the stage

4:15 All racers to winner’s circle for announcements

Here’s a little bit about the event and the group behind it…

Hello Neighbors! We would like to formally introduce you to the Madison Ave Community Fund! The Madison Ave Community Fund is a non-profit organization started by us, your neighbors, to help us direct the funds raised from the Madison Ave Soapbox Derby and other future events. For those new to the neighborhood or who haven’t experienced the Madison Ave Soapbox Derby for some crazy reason, it is an amazing event started by a group of neighbors in 2011. We got together and came up with the zany idea of bringing together our families to have fun while raising money for a local charity benefiting the children of our community. Thanks to all the support of our awesome neighbors and neighborhood businesses, the event has grown from about 20 drivers in 2011 to 100 drivers in last year’s rain soaked derby. We are proud to announce that we have now donated over $30,000 to local children’s charities!

More information about the event and the organization can be found here on thewebsite.

Top Decatur Stories from the Past Week:

• Lackluster Ticket Sales Prompt Wine Fest Cancellation
• ‘Don’t Cry, Baby’: Soldier Dad Surprises Daughters
• Ellis Defense Hammers on Lies Told by Witness
• Decatur Gears Up for Inaugural Restaurant Week
• 20 Job Openings in Decatur: LL Global, Collabera, SolTech, and More
• Suspected Robbers Caught at Decatur MARTA Station
• 2014 Pumpkin Patch at North Decatur UMC
• Decatur Man Convicted of Molesting Babysitter, 14