The 16th annual Kiwanis Incredible Duck Splash will offer dozens of prizes and fun for families who look forward each year to watching the spectacle of thousands of ducks being dumped by helicopter into Round Lake at Mill Race Park.
The fundraiser on Oct. 12 to benefit area youth organizations allows individuals to adopt one or more rubber ducks with different numbers on them, according to Jeff Blasdel, Meridian Kiwanis board member and event chairman.
If one of their ducks has the right number on it, that person could win some valuable prizes that could include a new car, Blasdel said.
Last year, a total of 18,000 rubber ducks were adopted and placed into Round Lake at Mill Race Park. Many will be dropped into the water at 12:30 p.m. by a helicopter making two or three passes over the park, he said. But due to limited room in the helicopter, most of the ducks will already be in the lake as the crowd arrives, Blasdel explained.
At about 12:45 p.m., a person in a conventional boat will row themselves in the middle of the several thousand floating ducks, and use a remote-controlled miniature boat to push these toys toward him or her, Blasdel said. A total of 10 ducks will be picked up, placed in a tube, and brought back to the Kiwanis tent, he said.
Before the numbers on the retrieved ducks are checked, organizers will open a sealed envelope containing a numeral chosen by Chevrolet of Columbus. If one of the 10 retrieved ducks has the exact number chosen by the automobile dealership at 2825 Merchant Mile, the person who adopted that duck will win their choice of either a new vehicle from Chevrolet of Columbus or $50,000 cash.
Even if the lucky number is not among the 10 retrieved ducks, the person who did adopt the duck with the number selected by the dealership will still receive $100 cash, Blasdel said. Although nobody has won a car in the previous events, there will still be 24 other prizes worth a combined $12,000 given away this year, Blasdel said.
Last year’s Duck Splash raise $77,000, more than a 16% increase from the amount raised in 2017.
This year, 20 nonprofit, youth-oriented organizations will split 80% of the money raised, while the remaining 20% will go toward programs for children and young people sponsored by the local Kiwanis Clubs, Blasdel said.
Adopting one rubber duck will cost $5 while five ducks costs $20. If you want to improve your odds of winning, you can get 13 ducks for $50, 20 ducks for $75 and 30 ducks for $100, Blasdel said.
The rubber ducks may be purchased from any Kiwanis Club member, from Midwest Computer Solutions at 3018 State St., from any of the 20 nonprofit, youth-oriented organizations benefiting from the fundraiser, and from the Kiwanis Club tent at Mill Race Park prior to the event.
In addition to the ducks, a 1 p.m. magic show will be performed by Don Miller, an Indianapolis Kiwanis Club member who has frequently performed to benefit Riley Hospital for Children, Blasdel said.
“Don does 20 different shows, so he never does the same show twice in the same place,” Blasdel said.
While the prize winners will be announced at 2 p.m., organizers say it is not necessary for a person to be present to win.
During the event, about 100 coupons that are each worth a Dilly Bar at Dairy Queen will be handed out to children on a first-come, first-serve basis, Blasdel said.
The guest of honor at this year’s event will be Lilly Tadget, who was chosen last month as Miss Kiwanis Balloon Fest in Bloomington.
Tadget, who serves as official ambassador for the Kiwanis Clubs of South Central Indiana, is also eligible to compete to become Miss America. She will arrive in a convertible also supplied by Chevrolet of Columbus, Blasdel said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go ” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Activities for the 16th annual Kiwanis Incredible Duck Splash begin at noon on Oct. 12 at Mill Race Park in downtown Columbus.
Toy ducks can be adopted at the following non-profit youth service organizations that will benefit from the fundraiser:
- ARC of Bartholomew County
- Bartholomew County School Corp. Book Buddies
- Columbus East Band Boosters, Key Club, and Soccer Boosters
- Columbus North Band Boosters, Choral Group and DECA Club
- Dance Team Booster Club
- Hauser High School Key Club
- Northside Middle School 8th grade class
- Schmitt and Southside Elementary schools
- St. Agnes Church Youth Group
- St. Bartholomew Catholic School
- Van Buren Elementary PTO
Proceeds are also used by the Kiwanis Clubs of Columbus to support local community service programs. Those clubs are:
- Kiwanis Club of Columbus
- Kiwanis Club of St. Paul
- Kiwanis Golden K
- Meridian Kiwanis Club
More online information is available at kducks.com. Phone: 812-603-6461.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
