By Robin GOLDSWORTHY

Americana at Brand last Friday was the site for the opening of duck season — the Glendale Kiwanis Incredible Duck Splash (KIDS) season that is.

The annual duck splash, this year being held on Saturday, Oct. 24, is the biggest fund raiser for the Glendale Kiwanis Club. At Friday’s kick off, a crowd of about 100 people were on hand to greet Quacky, the duck splash mascot, as he lead Crescenta Valley High School’s marching band when it entered the Americana courtyard.

Club president Ron Baker took the stage to greet supporters and was joined by Glendale City Councilmember Laura Friedman.

“I predict the most successful duck season ever,” Friedman said to the crowd who enthusiastically responded with cheers and duck calls.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the “duck chuck” when Kiwanis members and event dignitaries threw rubber duckies into a waiting pool.

Commonly called a duck race, the October splash is when a man-made “lake,” Lake Glendale at Verdugo Park, is created to accommodate the 5,000 to 100,000 yellow rubber ducks that will “race” to a finish line. The ducks are adopted at $5 each (discounts apply for larger adoptions) by folks eager to not only support their favorite charities who partner with the Kiwanis, but who hope to earn prizes. Each duck is marked with a unique number on a tag on its bottom identifying the adopter.

Foothill schools, clubs and non-profit organizations have already signed up to partner with the Glendale Kiwanis for this year’s splash. These organizations will receive 50% of all monies they raised through duck adoptions.

In addition to the duck race, on Oct. 24 Verdugo Park will host numerous booths promoting the various causes that the duck race supports.

Verdugo Park is located at 1621 Cañada Blvd. (across the street from Glendale Community College).

To learn more about adopting ducks, visit the club’s website at www.ducks4kids.com.

“I predict the most successful duck season ever,” Friedman said to the crowd who enthusiastically responded with cheers and duck calls.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the “duck chuck” when Kiwanis members and event dignitaries threw rubber duckies into a waiting pool.

Commonly called a duck race, the October splash is when a man-made “lake,” Lake Glendale at Verdugo Park, is created to accommodate the 5,000 to 100,000 yellow rubber ducks that will “race” to a finish line. The ducks are adopted at $5 each (discounts apply for larger adoptions) by folks eager to not only support their favorite charities who partner with the Kiwanis, but who hope to earn prizes. Each duck is marked with a unique number on a tag on its bottom identifying the adopter.

Foothill schools, clubs and non-profit organizations have already signed up to partner with the Glendale Kiwanis for this year’s splash. These organizations will receive 50% of all monies they raised through duck adoptions.

In addition to the duck race, on Oct. 24 Verdugo Park will host numerous booths promoting the various causes that the duck race supports.
Verdugo Park is located at 1621 Cañada Blvd. (across the street from Glendale Community College).

To learn more about adopting ducks, visit the club’s website at www.ducks4kids.com.