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GILDA’S LAUGHFESTAIMS TO TAKE BACKTHE RUBBER CHICKEN TOSS WORLD RECORD

AT THIS YEAR’S COMMUNITY KICKOFF ON MARCH 10

Grand Rapids community invited to help toss rubber chickens

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 1, 2016–Today, the nation’s only community-wide festival of laughter,Gilda’s LaughFest,announcedthey’ll attempt to take back the Guinness World Record for ”Largest Rubber Chicken Toss,”by inviting the community to help out at this year’s family friendly Community Kickoff.This year’s event, sponsored by FeyenZylstra and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., will take place at Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids andthe first 1,200 participants will be provided with rubber chickens to toss.

“We’re thrilled Gilda’s LaughFest has chosen to attempt to bring back the rubber chicken world record this year,”said Nate Koetje, CEO of FeyenZylstra. “The Community Kick-off event is something we look forward to participating in each year, is great for families, and we are honored to be part of the festival.”

Gilda’s LaughFest originally set the record back in 2011 with a total of 925 rubber chickens tossed. In that same year, the record was broken again by Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, who tossed 999 rubber chickens.

“This will be our sixthattempt to set a world record.We’re hoping to take back our original world record we set tossing rubber chickens in our first year of LaughFest,” said Wendy Wigger, President of Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and LaughFest. “We’ve broken four out of five world records for most people wearing sunglasses in the dark, wearing false mustaches, wearing animal noses at a single venue and of course, number of rubber chickens tossed.”

“We encourage all Grand Rapidians to come out and support the start of this annual 10-day festival of laughter and help bring this world record back to our city,”said Kristopher Larson, President and CEO ofDowntown Grand Rapids Inc. “This type of event is what brings the Grand Rapids community together.”

The world record attempt will be followed with opening night events and activitiesincluding, a free Preview Show at Dr. Grin’s at The B.O.B, Laughter is Good Medicine at MSU, and Not From Here/Crawlspace Eviction at Dog Story Theater, at this time, Clean Comedy Showcase tickets are no longer available.,

Editor’s note: Media is invited to early morning activities at Calder Plaza starting at 5 a.m.

WHEN:March 10 – LaughFestCommunity Kickoff

  • 5:30 p.m. – plaza opens and pre-activities start
  • 6:00 p.m. – witnesses and presenters arrive
  • 6:30 p.m. – program starts
  • 6:45 p.m. – official attempt to take back record

WHERE:Calder Plaza

351 Ottawa Ave., NW

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

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About Gilda’s Club

Gilda's Club Grand Rapids is a free emotional health support community of children, adults, families and friends on any kind of cancer journey or those grieving the death due to any cause. Its comprehensive program, delivered by professionals, includes education, structured sharing times, networking, lectures, workshops and social activities. Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is one of the largest and busiest of the 44 affiliates in North America. The organization runs entirely on charitable donations and currently serves more than 10,000 individuals each year at its clubhouses in Grand Rapids and Lowell, Mich., in various schools and community centers. For more information, visit