Getting Ready for KIDS

By Mary O’KEEFE

Where can you find a man-made river that empties into a lake that was created in less then 24 hours with about 17,000 rubber ducks wearing sunglasses racing down that river? At Verdugo Park this Saturday, of course, for the annual Kiwanis Incredible Duck Splash – KIDS.

Each year the Glendale Kiwanis hold its biggest fundraiser at Verdugo Park with the help of hundreds of volunteers from local high school Key Clubs and Rosemont Middle School’s Builders Club. For weeks, the students and other non-profit organizations have been selling rubber ducks that will splash in the great race.

In addition to “Lake Glendale,” there will be game and information booths at the park.

“Our [kid] volunteers will be operating the game booths,” said Todd Hunt, Glendale Kiwanis member.

There will also be the Glendale Police K9 unit at the park. Visitors can watch a demonstration of how well trained the dogs are and how they help the officers in everyday police work.

The event is the Kiwanis biggest fundraiser of the year. The money raised goes to support the club’s philanthropic programs.

“We give out about $20,000 a year to the high school and college scholarship program and we have our Child Car Safety Seat Program, rice and beans collection for the Salvation Army Food Bank and all the different projects we run at schools,” Hunt said.

Duck adoption forms are available at several locations around the community including Crescenta Valley High School and Rosemont Middle School. Adoptions can be made online at www.ducks4kids.org. Ducks can also be adopted at the event.

Over $13,000 in prize money was distributed to the winning duck adopters in 2011 with Janet Hamilton winning the big prize of $10,000.

Each duck adopts for $5 or a Quack Pack of five for $25. The adopting of seven ducks pays for a year’s membership for a deserving child in a Boys and Girls Club, nine ducks pay for a child car safety seat donation to a needy family and a family of 20 ducks provides a three month supply of rice and beans for nine homeless families.

The Kiwanis Duck Splash is at Verdugo Park, 1621 Cañada Blvd., on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The Glendale Police K9 Unit will be at the park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.