Kellie Hwang – May. 9, 2009

The Arizona Republic

More than 40,000 rubber ducks will swarm the canal at Scottsdale Waterfront next Saturday. It’s the second annual Arizona Lucky Ducky Derby, which raises money for Valley charities. While a duck derby has been held for about 20 years, the event has been run differently in the past.

Great American Merchandise and Events of Scottsdale hosts duck derbies nationally and internationally. The company used to give the much smaller-scale event to charities to run, but last year the company decided to expand it.

“We put the event under our own non-profit and decided to give back to local charities,” said Jeanie Studer, event manager for the GAME Foundation. “We all work here and decided it was time to really amp up our own event and make ours the biggest.” So the company ran the event and the proceeds went to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. This year the hospital still is a beneficiary, but corporate sponsors were able to choose their own organizations to benefit as well.

And derby participants who adopt ducks can choose the charity they want their contribution to go to. Fry’s Food Stores, the title sponsor, picked Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Other beneficiaries include Girls on the Run, chosen by KTAR-FM (92.3); Scottsdale Cares, picked by the city of Scottsdale; and Kiwanis International, selected by the Valley of the Sun Kiwanis Club.

“We are really proud to be one of the sponsors, because one of Fry’s title missions is to support non-profits that take care of children and women,” said JoEllen Lynn, a representative for Fry’s. Each of the 120 Fry’s stores around the state is encouraging customers to adopt ducks. “The smallest donation is $10, which is pretty affordable for a lot of people,” Lynn said. “If one charity doesn’t appeal to you, another one will.

And what’s great is the wide range of good it is going to do.” Last year, $13,000 was raised for the hospital. Studer said the goal this year is to triple that amount. The release of the ducks is a sight to see. A crane will tip a huge container filled with ducks from about five-stories high. “There is a huge, exciting splash into the Waterfront and the canal becomes a yellow flood,” Studer said. It takes about seven minutes for the ducks to “race” down the canal and funnel into a trap. The winners will be pulled and, after all the ducks are contained, awards will be presented. Last year the grand prize was a car. This year the winner will receive $10,000.

The festival starts late in the morning so people can buy ducks and duck merchandise. Also featured will be vendors, live music and games for kids. The ducks will drop at 2 p.m. “It’s your only chance to see 40,000 ducks dropped from five stories high,” Studer said. “It’s an all-ages event, and kids really love seeing the ducks. Thousands of rubber ducks are dropped into the Scottsdale Waterfront Canal at the Arizona Lucky Ducky Derby in 2008.