The 27th annual Deborah Washington Memorial Soap Box Derby will take place in Downtown Moss Point on Saturday, March 30, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The race, which is sponsored by Moss Point Active Citizens (MPAC) and the Black Employee Network at the Chevron Pascagoula Refinery, draws participants from across the Southeast. It is open to children between the ages of 7 and 17 who build their engine-less cars from kits purchased from a designated supplier.
Winners of the Moss Point divisions then travel to Akron, Ohio, to compete in the All-American Soap Box Championship.
Originally known as the Magnolia State Soap Box Derby, the event’s name was changed to honor Deborah Washington after she lost her battle with breast cancer. Washington started the event in 1992, and was a beloved refinery employee known for her active community involvement.
