“The benefit is by them helping us sell these 30,000 ducks — because it would be impossible for all of our club members to sell them — they have an opportunity to get a piece of the profits that will go to their organization,” said Ron Baker, chairman of the event and president-elect of the Kiwanis Club of Glendale.
Of course, the ducks would go nowhere fast without a little help, and Glendale firefighters will be on hand to pump water behind the ducks during six separate heats, floating them toward the finish line.
Last year, Duck Splash raised $56,000 for the nearly 40 nonprofits that participated, and organizers have high hopes for this year.
“This year we’re trying to increase it even more,” Baker said. “I’m very positive that we’re going to beat last year’s goal.”
The Duck Splash is intended to fill funding gaps for nonprofits, many of which Glendale Kiwanis already works with regularly, said Vic Legerton, secretary of the club.
“We have certainly found interest in collaborating in fundraising rather than the usual competition with everybody going after often the same people and the same dollars,” he said. “Actually, we did find six or seven of the nonprofits that had wanted to do an event like the duck race themselves, but found that they didn’t have either the volunteers or the resources to do it. So they’re very appreciative that we’ll do the work and share the revenue with them — it’s been a winning situation for everyone.”
Some of the nonprofits involved this year include the Glendale Assn. for the Retarded, the Alex Theater Regional Board, the Foothill Autism Alliance and the Glendale Adventist Medical Center. Local schools are also joining the effort, including Clark Magnet High School, Crescenta Valley High School, Holy Family Girls High School and Franklin Elementary School.
Festivities kick off Saturday with games, concessions and entertainment at 10 a.m. at Verdugo Park, 1621 Cañada Blvd., with the first race starting at 11 a.m.
“The event, it’s great for families to come, because we have games for kids; there’s going to be entertainment between each race,” Baker said.
For more information, visit www.ducks4kids.com.
