About The Ducky Derby

The Redding Ducky Derby Race is a unique event designed as a fund-raising opportunity for the Rotary Foundation Against Substance Abuse and local youth groups. Since inception over $3 million has been returned to local communities for Youth Development programs and Drug and Alcohol Free activities. These programs have benefited countless young people in the North State.

What makes this event truly unique is the structure. The students participate by selling the tickets, and receive the direct result of their own efforts. The Foundation guarantees 80% of each dollar is returned to the schools groups. However, The past ten years the Foundation has returned 100% of ticket sales back to the Schools and Youth Clubs. The adults are there to support the students, but we require them to make an effort as well. This is a perfect win-win deal.

The race each year is a full day of fun, not just a duck race, but a family event with no drugs or alcohol at the park. The Events at the Park included a wide range of entertainment with fun and excitement for all. On race day we have been told that no other event brings more people to the Caldwell Park and the attendance at the Turtle Bays Arts and Craft Faire for both days continues to break records. We join with Turtle Bays Art's and Craft Faire on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets will be available at the park both days. The ducks drop at 3:00 p.m. Sunday.

Duck adoption papers can be used to purchase multiple ducks. A number will be attached to each duck corresponding to the name on the entry ticket. Multiple ducks from one ticket will be assigned separate numbers. A computer is used for the input of the names of "adopters". The ducks are all numbered in a special fun "Duck Tagging" event at Meeks Lumber the Wednesday before the event. The names and the numbers are merged by computer immediately prior to the drop.

Simply call either of the numbers here for more information. Marge Beck at 530-225-8583 or Bill Evanhoe at 530-244-1900.

History of the Ducky Derby

In 1987 Werner Schwartz, then District Governor of Rotary District 5160 called a meeting of North Sate Rotarians to consider forming a Not-for-profit corporation to raise money for A Substance Abuse program called Friday Night Live. There were an alarming number of deaths of teenagers following sporting events and parties on the weekends and the audio-visual program had demonstrated success in stopping that trend. The District had already formed a similar Not-for-Profit in Contra Costa County. The Foundations where also made into District committees. The Rotary Clubs of Northern California against Substance Abuse was formed in 1988 with Neal Sternberg as the founding president and 16 other Rotarians. 17 Northern California Rotary Clubs were represented.  In the first year money was raised to purchase all of the equipment for the Friday Night Live program by taxing the Clubs per member. In searching for better ways to raise money to extend our influence to reduce substance abuse amongst our teens, Jim Salina saw an article about a Duck Race in Oregon and presented it as an idea to Neal as a way to raise money to meet our Mission. After a year of working to convince key Board members of the Redding Rotary Clubs that the idea could work with the Clubs to joining forces to run the race, the first Duck race was run with tremendous success.

The foundation itself is not a Rotary Club, it is a non-profit 501 C-3 corporation that was incorporated in 1988 for the sole purpose of providing dollars to substance abuse prevention programs for adolescents in the northern counties of Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Trinity, Glenn and Siskiyou.