Ducky Derby Testimonials
Shasta Meadows School
Our Shasta Meadows JSN club has participated in the Ducky Derby since its inception! I haven’t stopped to calculate the amount of money our club has received from this unbelievable fundraiser. We’ve averaged at least $2,500 a year, so big bucks!
At Shasta Meadows, we are choosing to NOT have our entire school sell DD tickets. Our 5th graders in the Just Say No Club (JSN) are the only ones selling. The club consists of about 60 students with most students choosing to sell. The money raised goes towards a couple of different things. First, to help with the funding for WES camp, students earn $2 for every duck sold to help fund their cost. The rest of the money goes towards fun activities for our club, such as bowling, skating, waterworks, and videos to share at our meetings. We also use some of the money for community service, such as beautifying our school and sponsoring 10 kids of the Angel Tree at Christmas time.
Over the years our money has helped over 1800 students attend Whiskeytown Environmental School, a local environmental camp where our students learn our life science standards in an outdoor environment from highly qualified naturalists.
To support our JSN club, the money has helped us purchase videos and literature with a strong message about avoiding the dangers of drugs, staying drug free, and making good choices that we can live with in the future. The DD money helps fund our fieldtrips to fun activities that show kids there are other things to do than choosing to do drugs. Not only does the money fund the busses, but it helps with the entrance fees to some of our destinations.
Our JSN club is also a service club, so we’ve used some of the money to help beautify our campus so that our students will be proud of their school. We’ve purchased sets of 6 decorative flags to hang up in our outdoor hallway that change each month. Our students look forward to each month’s change! Trees, plants and flowers have been purchased to improve our campus, also.
For the past 18 years, our club uses some of the DD money to help support 10 children in our area off the Angel Giving Tree at Christmas time. Our club sells Christmas candy grams to raise money to purchase gifts that these children will enjoy on Christmas day. Over the years, we have sponsored 180 children!
So in short, each year our JSN club members benefit, Angel Giving Tree children benefit, and our school with 360 students benefits. Thanks for all you do to support our schools with the Ducky Derby!
Pam Stephenson
5th grade teacher
Shasta Meadows School
Kids Unlimited
Last year we had 150 students in camp we give roughly 20 scholarships out each year and are constantly looking for avenues to offset the costs. We have also come up with payment plans and lowered our costs so that more children in the North State would benefit from our program. We still have to pay our staff and pay the convention center, lighting, costumes etc. Kids unlimited is very interested!!! It helps us with our scholarship program!! I don't have pics of the actual ducky derby contest but it's a HUGE part of our camp. We have contest and prizes and our kids
really benefit from it. Please call with questions! 530-242-8769 or 510-8344
Shari Rouiller
MissFits Vandals
The Missfits Vandals D3 soccer team has 16 members and has sold ducky Derby tickets the last 2 years and used the money earned to pay tournament entry fees. This picture is from the Pleasanton Rage tournament where they placed 2nd in the 14 year old division!!! Thank you Ducky Derby and Redding Rotary :)
Anderson Heights Elementary School
This is our first year and we got started late, but we did raise a little bit. Each class that raised money was able to keep it for their own class activities. First –third went on a field trip to the Cascade Theatre today to see the California Theatre Company put on the play Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. The money raised covered the tickets for students that were not able to pay for their ticket. We took about 160 students. I’m not sure of the exact count of how many students benefitted from Ducky Derby, since I don’t know exactly how many paid. The kindergarten is using some of their money to purchase supplies for activities for Dr. Seuss’ Day and Read Across America in March.
I sure hope Lowe’s will help! How exciting!!
Jacinda Hedges
Anderson Heights Elementary
Anderson High School: I am the coordinator for Anderson Union High School. Our Ducky Derby benefits the Senior Class and goes toward their Sober Grad fund. This year we have 194 students in the Senior class.
I hope this helps.
Thanks
Amy Crofoot
St. Joseph School
St. Joseph School has participated in the Ducky Derby for the past 3 years. Although the whole school participates, we earmark the funds raised for our 5th grade WES Camp fund. The Ducky Derby is so well known in the community that it makes it easy for our students to sell tickets. We so appreciate this event which enables our students to enjoy a week outdoors at Whiskeytown learning about nature and a healthy lifestyle.
Thank you!
Kollene Morrissey
5th Grade Teacher
St. Joseph School
Shasta High Choir Boosters
The Shasta High Choir Boosters have embraced the Ducky Derby as a fundraiser for the past three years. The students involved choose to do so because they are self driven and truly want to raise money for the special choir events. The money raised by our students has helped us send kids to Disneyland, a choral festival in Napa and will send students this June to Costa Rica. The students involved are working to raise their own funds, which has implications far beyond the actual trips and the activities we plan. These students are learning responsibilities and are taking a strong hand in their own lives.
The Ducky Derby has been a wonderful addition to our choir program's fund raising efforts. I usually have 100 or more students take part in the fundraiser and we offer it to all the choir students at Shasta High School.
I feel very good about my efforts in chairing our Ducky Derby sales because with the Derby, a student can raise money through a recognized local fundraiser that people will want to support. Many of these students would never have the ability to pay for these trips on their own. The Ducky Derby allows all of our students a chance to participate in the Shasta High Choirs worthwhile programs. Thank you for the opportunities!
Eva Moty
Central Valley High School Cheer Squad
Last year about 50% of my cheer squad participated in the derby. I wish more girls had. Although I still consider it to have been successful. With the money earned we were able to purchase 3 safety mats. They are exceptional quality, roll up nicely and are lightweight so we can move them from all the various practice venues. Our team did not have mats prior and we perform some amazing stunts. This gives me, the team and parents peace of mind as the girls go flying through the air. I am not sure if this is the type of information you were looking for. My cheer team had 32 girls on it this past season that all benefited from the mats. In the bigger picture all the students, family and friends were able to enjoy performances that we put together from practicing on our wonderful cheer mats. I hope the girls participate next year so we can purchase other items for the team like more mats, music and stereo equipment.
Trina L. Adam
Office Manager
Central Valley High School
(530) 275-7075 x102
Central Valley High School Band
I am the music director at Central Valley HS, and in just the two years that I have been here, we have participated in Ducky Derby. The music students that have benefitted from the Derby numbers are around 60 a year. Since we have almost double in size since last year, we are able to help several students pay for everything from a band or choir t-shirt to end of the year awards to going on a Spring Music Festival trip. Please pass on to the Lowe’s people that for a small school like ours, Ducky Derby can be the encouragement to be a part of their school community through music groups. For many of them, this help allows me as a teacher to encourage them that participation leads to success and community involvement.
Thank you
Carlo Fazio
CVHS Music Dept.
Shasta Lake City
Burney High School Booster
Burney High School Booster club has participated in the Ducky Derby Ticket sales for at least eight years! The students that benefit from this fundraiser vary from 50-100 students each year.
We use the funds raised for our Sober Grad Party. It is sometimes difficult to raise funds in a small town because businesses are always being asked to donate to so many worthwhile causes and parents are tapped with all the graduation and college expenses. Ducky Derby gives us the opportunity to raise funds without going to the businesses and parents! The Seniors are asked to sell ducks and depending on the amount of ducks they sell, they are put into different gift categories for the Sober Grad Party, so the seniors who sell the most ducks get the best gifts at the party. Burney Boosters is so thankful to be given this opportunity to raise funds. Without the Ducky Derby funds Sober Grad would not be as successful as it has been. The last two years we have rented the Oasis Fun Center in Redding and bought some pretty wonderful gifts. Thank you, thank you, thank you! The students, parents, high school staff and businesses of Burney appreciate you!
Alison Wallace
Ducky Derby coordinator for Burney Boosters
Cascade Union Elementary School District
For the past several years the third grade staff at Meadow Lane School located in Anderson, California, has had their classes sell Ducky Derby tickets and used the proceeds to take their students on field trips and purchase materials for hands-on science activities. Last year the entire student body at the school, which is almost 500 students, sold the tickets. Some classes purchased Just Say No to Drugs items and classroom materials, while others used the funds to augment their classroom budgets. All money went directly for student use in making their classroom experience a richer more interactive one filled with varied hands-on materials. Having a fundraiser that allows the students a 100% return of funds raised has turned out to be an extremely generous situation for all involved and continues to strengthen and improve our community and all volunteers that participate in this worthwhile endeavor.
Shirley Quibell
Third grade teacher and district GATE coordinator
Cascade Union Elementary School District
BOY SCOUT TROOP 28, ANDERSON
Troop 28 is a small troop with 11 scouts. The money raised from the Ducky Derby has helped the boys to go on overnight campouts, camp and 2 of our scouts attended the
National Jamboree last year. The boys raise all of the money for the activities they participate in. We very much appreciate the Ducky Derby program, as we have used the
Funds for the boys to develop good habits and participate in healthy activities.
Thank you!
Terry McIntosh
Ducky Derby Coordinator for Troop 28
GRANT Elementary School
This was our third year proudly taking part in Ducky Derby. To date we have been able to raise well over $30,000. We as sports boosters, from the start, have taken every penny earned from this event and put it back into the Grant School general fund, to offset the costs of extracurricular activities. Athletics, Music/Band, Art, and other activities have been able to be sustained because of these funds. With Grant School being a one school district, its budget has really been affected by state cuts in recent years. These funds are very essential in maintaining these programs. The entire school participates, and this past year we integrated our preschoolers into the ticket sales. Approximately 700 kids were given tickets to sell. This year we are teaming up with our PTO, and promise to have our best sales yet!!! Thank you DUCKY DERBY!!!!
Dori Ross
Grant Sports Boosters Vice President
Ducky Derby Chairperson
Happy Valley Elementary School
At Happy Valley School our fifth grade students have the opportunity to sell Ducky Derby tickets to help cover the $170 cost of our week at Whiskeytown Environmental Camp. This ticket-selling venture is always well-received, with some students and families being able to sell enough to cover more than their own expenses. Any sales over $170 by one student are used to help pay for other students who might not have enough buyers themselves.
The pride that the students have in being involved in paying for their fees for WES Camp is evident. Students are directed to sell the Ducky Derby tickets to relatives and people they know. This is a great opportunity for our students to learn a lesson in taking responsibility and raising money for a cause that is important to them.
We certainly appreciate the opportunity that we have through the Ducky Derby program.
Rick Zeller
Fifth Grade Teacher
Happy Valley School
Anderson, CA
Douglas City School
The many 7th and 8th grade students of Douglas City School have benefitted from the Ducky Derby for at least the past 6 years by receiving a financial scholarship to attend the "Reach for the Future" weekend workshop. It is a tremendously well-organized, informational, and empowering conference held in Chico each spring. The students active in our Club Live get to attend due to the financial resources of the Ducky Derby. Our community is impoverished and most students would not be able to afford the cost of the conference. It is an eye-opening experience for our students. In fact several have told me afterwards, "It changed my life!"
Sara Clark
Douglas City School
North Cow Creek School
Eighth graders at North Cow Creek School have been selling Ducky Derby tickets for the past few years. This results in the direct benefit to some 40 students and indirect benefits to the entire school. Eighth graders use the funds for two field trips to supplement the classroom academics.
First, there is an all day journey to Sacramento. While there students and parent chaperones tour the state capitol, view "Adventures In Wild California" (an IMAX film) and end up with a tour of the California Rail Road Museum. These three areas help fill in various US History and Federal Government issues discussed in class.
Second, the class, along with 20 adults, brings the year to a close with a 3-day campout at Lava Beds National Monument near Tule Lake, CA. Students get hands on experience with various school subjects. These include the Federal Government, Forces in Nature, Native Americans, and Astronomical studies along with community building within our class structure. The students and adults camp out and work together to accomplish the purpose of this trip. Because of Ducky Derby sales, much of the cost is covered so there is plenty of food and supplies without having to have parents come up with more fees.
Indirectly, NCCS students and staff benefit as each year the 8th graders donate a gift to the school. Contributions have included: back boards for the gym, trees for the grounds, and printers and projectors for the classrooms. Plus, money left over from the year is rolled over to the next class to help them with their upcoming 8th grade experience. Ducky Derby has been one of the most helpful resources in making the 8th grade at NCCS a GR-8 experience.
Ed Turney
Advisor/Teacher
Eighth Grade
North Cow Creek School
Palo Cedro, CA
Lassen View School
At Lassen View, our entire K-5 school is involved in selling Ducky Derby tickets. The money raised goes to support our Just Say No Club and the classrooms that sold tickets. This year the Just Say No Club used the funds to sponsor an all school assembly "Drums Not Drugs" http://www.rhythmmagic.com during Red Ribbon Week. Last year the Just Say No Club used the funds to sponsor an all school BMX rider assembly "Cap City Stunt Team" out of Sacramento www.capcitystunts.com also during Red Ribbon Week. Each group's message was about hope and looking to a healthy substance free future. Our classrooms use these funds to cover classroom costs as well as field trips.
Clarissa Loffmark
Lassen View Parent Teacher Organization.
Parsons School
The Ducky Derby has allowed our six grade classes to experience Lassen Volcanic Park in person. Six grade science curriculum is all about Earth science focusing on earthquakes and volcanoes. Our money helps us to meet our transportation costs. We also take a trip to the Exploratorium in San Francisco and the monies raised help cover the costs of admission and transportation. These experiences help to acquire a deeper understanding of the concepts we study. The money also helps to cover the cost of our transportation to our end of year honor roll field trip.
Thanks,
Jeff Walton
Parsons School
Junction Elementary School
I used the grants that were rewarded in our last grant period. We do a lot of other fundraisers. They go to one "pot". The best way to report the awards for ducky derby would be:
1. Character Counts Materials - A character program we have implemented to help build stronger character in our students.
2. Art Club Supplies - this is a place where middle school students can go to afterschool and use their creative talents in a supervised way. This would be in place of being alone afterschool, when bad choices could be made.
3. Sports Uniforms - same as above
4. Window Coverings for the gym - We have guest speakers that come and give the students life advice on making good choices. We needed the coverings for the multimedia part of the presentations. These are also for afterschool movie nights, a safe place for students.
Thank you,
Sherry Tuggle
Bonny View School
I would like to thank Redding East Rotary Club for all that you do with Ducky Derby. I have been a parent at Bonny View Elementary school for 3 years, and I have seen the benefits of the money raised through selling ducks. Each classroom decides how to spend the money. I have seen the money go towards art supplies, field trips, transportation, or student enrichment activities. This year one of our students was the top seller, he was so excited to get to ride on boat and to watch the ducks drop. He will never forget that experience. Thank you for all that you do. Our children are the future and you give so much back to them.
Sincerely,
Amber Dunlap
Bonny View School Parent
