Blue Wahoos' Mascot Kazoo To Rappel Tallest Building During  Fundraiser Event 

The Blue Wahoos mascot, Kazoo, has been atop parade floats, flatbed trucks, party decks, small buildings and even surfboards.

Saturday, the team’s beloved, blue furry mascot will attain a new first by rappelling 11 stories down the Studer Community Institute (SCI) building on Garden Street.

Kazoo’s feat, expected to occur between 12:15 p.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, is a featured part of ARC Gateway’s second annual “Over The Edge” event. It is a full-day, fundraiser to build awareness for the organization servicing more than 1,100 area residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

“We were looking at local celebrities (to rappel) and who doesn’t love this guy and who doesn’t know who Kazoo is?” said Jenni Perkins, director of marketing and public relations for ARC Gateway in Pensacola. “Kazoo is the quintessential representation of Pensacola.

“We thought it would add a little more fun, a little more community engagement and exposure, even outside of rappellers and our typical ARC Gateway supporters.

The event has more than 60 people already signed up to rappel the building. The cost is a $1,000 donation to ARC Gateway to help the local organization in its service needs for the community.

In addition, there will be a DJ and live music, a separate play area for children, four different food trucks and other activities at the outdoor plaza area fronting the SCI building.

“Last year, we raised about $60,000,” Perkins said. “And for a first-year event in Pensacola, we were pretty pleased. This year we wanted to expand (event) a little more.

“For the spectators, family and friends, who are coming to support the rappellers, there is a little bit more for them to do and stay busy while having some fun.”

Perkins explained there are six ARC Gateway homes maintained in Pensacola. The people being served in the organization range from infants to seniors 55-older.

“Most people don’t realize we have something for every stage of life,” Perkins said. “When the agency started (1954) it was really a grass roots organization of parents with kids with disabilities. And it grew as kids grew and then implemented new programs and became a formalized non-profit agency.”

The Blue Wahoos have partnered with ARC Gateway since the team’s inception in 2012 and before that year with team owners Quint and Rishy Studer as supporters.

Numerous people in the ARC Gateway program have worked at the stadium, including Nathan, 44, who is part of the team’s kitchen staff.

Nathan told Perkins that “he went crazy with excitement” when learning he was hired by the Blue Wahoos to work the 69 home games.

Nathan is part of the ARC Gateway PALS (Program For Adult Learning And Support).

“It is a very special program,” Perkins said. “We serve clients of all ages. We have 15-20 business partners in the community who provide on the job training. It is a very proactive program.

“This event Saturday is an opportunity for us to bring awareness to the agency and ties into our mission with client we serve every day.”

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Over The Edge, an event supporting ARC Gateway

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: SCI Building on Garden Street

ADMISSION: Free for all spectators. Anyone wishing to rappel the SCI building can be done with $1000 donation to ARC Gateway.

ACTIVITIES: Rappelers will go down the building at various times. Kazoo is set to rappel the building between 12 p.m.-1 p.m. There will be food trucks, live music and other activities throughout the day.