Go quackers for good causes

Robert Chacon

The Glendale Kiwanis Club is hoping to make a big splash with its

newest fundraiser.

The Kiwanis Incredible Duck Splash is coming to town Sept. 10, but

those who wish to participate have to first adopt one or more of the

thousands of faux-feathered aquatic fowl that will be featured in the

event.

“Adoption papers” for the rubber duckies, which will be raced

around “Lake Glendale,” are available at the Glendale Chamber of

Commerce, Glendale Central Library and Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber

of Commerce. A kick-off ceremony was held Friday at the Glendale City

Municipal Services Building in Glendale.

More than 75 nonprofit groups will benefit from the event,

organizer Victor Legerton said.

The group estimates that anywhere between 30,000 to 100,000 duck

adoptions will be made for the race.

The race course will be the temporary Lake Glendale, which will be

erected the day of the event at Verdugo Park.

The competition will take 15 to 20 minutes as the ducks make their

way on a current from one end of the course to the other. Awaiting

the ducks at the end will be a suction tube that will randomly snag

the lucky ducks. Each duck will be numbered, corresponding to its

adoptive sponsor.

A top prize could be $1 million if someone’s lucky ducky comes in.

For every 10,000 ducks entered in the race, three will be selected

to win the cash prize.

The cash prize will be paid by SCA Promotions, which provides

large jackpot prizes for charity events.

First prize will be a new automobile and other prizes will be

determined later, Legerton said.

The event is being billed as one of the most unique Duck Splash

events in the U.S.

The event -- licensed by Great American Merchandising and Events

-- is typically staged by a single group for its own benefit,

Legerton said.

For this event, however, virtually every nonprofit group in Los

Angeles County is being invited to participate.

Single ducks or a flock may be adopted by logging on to

www.ducks4kids.com. Ducks can also be adopted at the Glendale Chamber

of Commerce, the Central Branch of the Glendale Public Library and

the Montrose Verdugo-City Chamber of Commerce. Call (818) 434-3935.