The 2nd race of the season happens this Saturday on March 9th! 35,000 rubber ducks will make a splash in Fort Lauderdale, FL for the 13th Annual KID Duck Fest Derby! The quacktivities happen from 12-3 PM at Esplanade Park for family-friendly activities. Adopt a duck and enter for a chance to win $10,000!
All proceeds benefit Kids In Distress who’s mission is to prevent child abuse, preserve the family, and treat children who have been abused and neglected.
To adopt a duck or learn more about Kids In Distress, check out: 2019 Duck Fest Derby
- March 5, 2019
Is your nonprofit looking for a unique event to take your fundraising to the next level? Consider adding a duck race to your fundraising plans! A rubber duck race allows your nonprofit to break away from the same old fundraisers allowing for a broader reach of your organization’s message.
What is a Rubber Duck Race?
A duck race is a fundraising event that allows your nonprofit and community to come together by allowing members of your community to “adopt” a rubber duck for $5. Adopted ducks are then dropped into a waterway and race to the finish line to win prizes for their adoptive parents.
Planning a Rubber Duck Race
- Timeline: A rubber duck race is a signature fundraising event. We recommend you start to plan at least 7-9 months prior to your race date.
- Volunteers: A successful rubber duck race can’t happen without the help of committed volunteers. Volunteer opportunities include duck adoptions, logistics support, tagging party, and more! We consult with our nonprofit racers on ways they can recruit volunteers for their rubber duck race.
- Sponsors: The most important component of a rubber duck race is securing sponsorships. You should be able to say that 100% of every duck adoption is going directly to your organization. Our fundraising team helps each client with sponsorship design that is customized to allow them to secure big bucks for their racing ducks!
- Logistics: You actually don’t need a water source to launch ducks! Besides typical raceways such as rivers and lakes, GAME has experience with a variety of other raceway types.
Promoting a Rubber Duck Race
- Social Media: Social media is just one of the tools you can use to encourage duck adoptions. GAME consults with our nonprofit partners on ways to use social media to promote their race.
- Media Support: You will want to secure media coverage for your event. Media support gives your event more credibility and publicity and saves your nonprofit money on advertising.
- Promotional Ideas: In addition to promoting your duck race on social media, there are different promotional ideas you can implement. We consult with you on ideas that you can use to get the community quacking about your event!
- Mobile-Friendly Software: All of our partners get access to our mobile-friendly software, which was created and optimized especially for duck races.
GAME is Your Rubber Duck Race Partner
Let our fundraising professionals provide you with the necessary tools to run a successful rubber duck race. Contact us at racewithus@game-group.com or call us at (800) 779-RACE.
- February 28, 2019
This weekend, our ducks are kicking off the 2019 season in Naples, Florida! The Great Naples Duck Race is raising funds as well as awareness to keep kids safe around water. Hosted by NCH Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition, the organization partners with agencies throughout Collier County to improve the health and safety of children in the community.
A few of their efforts to keep young kids safe around water include:
- “Kids Don’t Float” life jacket loaner stands that provide US Coast Guard approved lifejackets on beaches throughout Collier County
- Swimming lessons for a child including transportation from preschool to an aquatic facility
- Educating children/parents/teachers through water safety presentations
- Providing door/window alarms for families to help prevent young children from wandering into the pool/canal/lake
You can still join the flock and adopt your duck for $10- with a goal of 10,000 ducks to race! 1st place duck will take home $10,000 along with other other QUACK-tastic prizes for 2nd and 3rd place.
If you’re in the Naples area, you don’t want to miss out on this incredible event and their cause! The Great Naples Duck Race is happening this Saturday, February 2nd from 4 pm- 7 pm.
Adopt A Duck: The Great Naples Duck Race
For More Information on Water Safety & More: NCH Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition
- January 28, 2019
Although it’s the off-season for our ducks, they have been quite busy making holiday appearances. If you have a duck race coming up, holiday-related events/posts are a great way to incorporate ducks to get the community excited. Here are some fun ways our racers have used ducks throughout the holiday season.
- Parade Float
Photo Credit: Graham Duck Derby - Quacky Santa
Quacky Santa in The Woodlands, TX 3. Elf on the Shelf
Photo Credit: Coastal Duck Derby 4. Santa Duck
5. String of Derby Lights
Photo Credit: The Great Naples Duck Race
- December 18, 2018
Duck season may be over but the holidays are a great time to show your duck partners your appreciation! Wish your sponsors, adopters and potential donors for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with a custom image and note.
Other great ideas are to drop off a duck feather along with a Thanksgiving message or duck-o-rate a derby duck with paint and faux feathers like our friends at Youth Emergency Services & Shelter did last year!
Happy Thanksgiving from your GAME family. We hope you have a great holiday!
- November 19, 2018
All ducks are on deck for the 24th Annual Rubber Duck Regatta this weekend in Cincinnati, OH! 180,000 of our ducks (yes, you read right, nearly 200k ducks) will be dropped in the Ohio River to raise money for Freestore Foodbank. Freestore Foodbank provides emergency food and services to children and families with an ultimate goal of creating stability and self-reliance for those in crisis. If all ducks are adopted by this Sunday, this will mark the 5th consecutive year the event has raised over $1 million to fight hunger in their community. If that isn’t incredible, we don’t know what is!
To put things in perspective, here is a breakdown of what a duck or flock of ducks does for the organization:
- $5 = One duck and equates to 15 meals
- $25 = “Big Quack” – Five ducks, plus one free and equates to 75 meals
- $50 = “Bob’s Quack Pack” – Ten ducks, plus two free and equates to 150 meals
- $100 – “Flock of Ducks” – Twenty ducks, plus four free and equates to 300 meals
The festivities begin on Sunday, at 2 pm and one lucky duck will win a 2018 Honda Accord and possibly $1 million if their duck is the KEMBA Million Dollar Duck!
If you’re in the Cincinnati area, you don’t want to miss this QUACK-tacular event to help raise money to fight hunger! Adopt a duck or sign up to volunteer and see for yourself what it looks like to see 180,000 rubber ducks make a splash!
- August 29, 2018
The ducks are making their way back to sunny, Tampa, Florida for their 2nd duck race this Saturday! Last year, the Kiwanis Club of Tampa ‘s inaugural The Incredible Duck Race exceeded their original goal of 5,000 ducks and sold just over 7,400. This year, they have set a goal of 10,000 ducks to raise more money for The Tampa Kiwanis Club Foundation. The foundation supports local programs such as youth leadership, reading rooms, accessibility ramps, etc.
The festivities are between 10:00 am-12:00 pm and it’s free to the public! The event will feature family-friendly games, food trucks, and entertainment. Then stick around to watch the ducks make a splash in the Hillsborough River and see which three lucky ducks win cash prizes! First place winner takes home $5,000.
For more information about The Incredible Duck race or adopt a duck of your very own, go to www.TampaDuckRace.com!
- August 16, 2018
Tomorrow, 60,000 rubber ducks will make a splash in Downtown Chicago for the 13th Annual Chicago Ducky Derby! The duck race has been a staple fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois and raised over $300,000 last year for their athletes. All proceeds benefit more than 23,000 athletes and approximately 20,000 Young Athletes across Illinois, to allow the athletes to participate in the Winter and Summer Special Olympics games at no cost to them and their families.
One lucky duck will take home a 2018 Chevy Equinox along with other great prizes for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place. If you’re in the Chicago area, it’s not too late to adopt your duck! Go to www.chicagoduckrace.com and secure your spot in the race with one duck for $5 or a flock of ducks (24) for $100!
The quacktivities begin tomorrow, August 9th at The Wrigley building at 9:00 am and the splashdown for the derby is at 1:00 pm.
For more information about Special Olympics and their incredible athletes, visit: www.soill.org
- August 8, 2018
It’s the final countdown for the first ever Zoom Duck Derby and Walk! The event will take place on Saturday, August 4, 2018, at the Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay in Ohio. The fun begins at 8:00 a.m. with a wellness walk followed by the Zoom Duck Derby at 9:00 a.m. where 5,000 rubber ducks will splash into the lazy river and race to the finish line. There are some exciting prizes for the winners including $5,000 in cash. If you haven’t adopted a duck yet there’s still time! Visit www.zoomduckderby.com to adopt a duck online. All proceeds from the event benefit The Alpha Group of Delaware, a nonprofit that provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Examples of these services include work training, community employment, supportive living, and transportation. To read more about The Alpha Group please visit https://www.alphagroup.net.
- August 3, 2018
We have over 70,000 ducks racing to kick off May so it is another busy weekend of duck races!
1st Annual Houston Duck Derby
Who: Clear Lake Christian School
Clear Lake Christian School was founded in 1993 with the purpose of equipping students both academically and spiritually. Their mission is to develop students into deeply-rooted life-long learners, proficient communicators and productive leaders of society by providing high quality spiritual, social and academic opportunities.
Where: Clear Lake Christian School in Houston, Texas
When: Friday May 4, 2018. The ducks will launch at 6:30 p.m. CDT.
Highlights: The community will enjoy watching 5,000 ducks race down a man made water slide for some great prizes including a $500 Visa Gift Card, an iPad, season passes to Schlitterbahn and an Amazon Echo. Adopt a Duck, Inspire a Future!
Racer Website: www.houstonduckderby.com
Reedy River Duck Derby
Who: Rotary Club of Greenville Evening
Returning for their 14th year, the Rotary Club is racing 10,000 ducks for multiple nonprofit organizations in Greenville, SC. Nonprofits include: Shriners Hospital for Children, Mauldin Miracle League, the Carolina Youth Symphony and more!
Where: Reedy River Falls Park in Greenville, SC
When: Saturday, May 5, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT. The ducks launch at 2:30 p.m.
Highlights: There will be games, children’s activities, entertainment, and exhibits from local artists. Prizes include an Embassy Suites Golf Resort Weekend Package, $1500 cash, and groceries for a year from Publix!
Racer Website: www.reedyriverduckderby.com
11th Annual YESS Duck Derby
Who: Youth Emergency Services & Shelter
As Iowa’s largest provider of emergency services for youth, newborn through age 17, YESS touches the lives of more than 2,000 children per year through a range of programs designed to keep kids safe and help families thrive.
Where: Jordan Creek Town Center in Des Moines, IA
When: Saturday, May 5, 2018 at noon CDT. Ducks launch at 2:00 p.m.
Highlights: The community can enjoy an afternoon of family-friendly entertainment, activity booths, inflatables, photos with Quacky, and food samples from the restaurants in the Jordan Creek shopping center, all at no cost!
At approximately 2:00 p.m. a total of 36,000 yellow duckies will dive into the water to win one of ten prizes. This year’s prizes include a Landscaping Makeover, a Microsoft Prize Package and the Grand Prize winner receives $10,000 in cash!
Racer Website: www.yessduckderby.org
20th Annual Rubber Duck Derby
Who: Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier
The Boys and & Girls Clubs of Lanier help youths participate in the “Youth of the Year” leadership program, provides school supplies, provide healthy snacks, and more for the club!
Where: Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, GA
When: Saturday, May 5, 2018 from noon to 3:00 p.m. EDT. The Duck Fest is from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Highlights: Family and friends can celebrate Cinco de Mayo with live music from Stereotype, food and drinks. The highlight will be watching a total of 21,000 ducks splash into the lake and swim for first place! This year’s prizes include a Diamond Solitaire, Four Adventure Tour Passes through Canopy Tours and the quickest duck across the finish line will win the grand prize of $10,000 cash!
Racer Website: www.rubberduckderby.com
3rd Annual Tired Dog Rescue Duck Derby
Who: Tired Dog Rescue
Tired Dog Rescue’s was founded in 2008 to help the huge population of abandoned, abused and neglected dogs along the Gulf Coast. The dogs they take in receive all the medical care they need regardless of the cost and they ensure they are adopted into loving homes through their 100% volunteer based foster program. Tire Dog also assists low-income families along the Gulf Coast with food and/or medical care for their pets as long as funds are available.
Where: Gulf Islands Waterpark
When: Saturday, May 5, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. CDT
Highlights: A total of 5,000 ducks will race at the Waterpark for an afternoon filled with music, a silent auction, raffles, food, and door prize giveaways! Adopt a Duck. Save a Life. It’s all about cash for the winners and the Grand Prize winner goes home with $1,000 cash! The second through fifth place winners will also receive cash.
Racer Website: www.tiredddogrescueduckderby.com
- May 1, 2018
- Recent Posts
Recent Posts
