Duck Regatta supports afterschool programs for Boys and Girls Club
Kayleen Simpson snaps a photo of Ellie Mayo, 12, and Olivia Mayo, 9, during the Boys and Girls Club Duck Regatta last year. This year's event is June 14.
MOSES LAKE - Thousands of rubber ducks will once again hit the water this summer during the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin's June 14 Rubber Duck Regatta.
Organization director Brant Mayo said this is the second year the Boys and Girls Clubs is putting on the fundraiser.
"We had a successful event last year, so we thought we would bring it back," said Mayo.
Ducks have numbers on them and will float around the Lazy River at the Surf 'n Slide water park, located at 401 W. Fourth Ave in Moses Lake, he said.
The first duck to float all the way around will win the event's grand prize of $1,500.
Other prizes include $1,000, an overnight stay and golf package for two at the Coeur d'Alene Resort and Seattle Mariners tickets.
Mayo said more than 50 other prizes will also be awarded during the event.
Tickets are $5, which gets you one duck. Twenty dollars gets you five ducks and $100 gets you 25 ducks, he said.
The regatta will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. this year, said Mayo.
"We're trying something different this year," he said. "We rented out the water park and the first 1,000 people get in free and can enjoy the park and watch the race."
Mayo said prizes will be handed out that night.
Mayo said proceeds from the regatta fund the club's programs.
"This allows us to make sure we have plenty of staff, supplies and materials for the nearly 200 kids we see a day," he said.
Mayo said it costs roughly $2,000 to run one child through the program each year. Holding fundraisers to help offset costs keeps membership fees down and affordable for families, he said.
"This is something that helps us close that gap," said Mayo.
Mayo said the organization sold just over 3,000 ducks last year. The goal this year is to sell 4,000, he said.
Tickets are available at both of the organization's clubhouses, Mayo said.
The downtown Moses Lake clubhouse is located at 410 W. Third Ave. and the Larson clubhouse is located at 4306 Arnold Dr.
Horizon Credit Union branches in Moses Lake and Ephrata will also have tickets on hand, he said.
The Moses Lake branch is located at 1704 S. Clover Dr. and the Ephrata branch is located at 260 C St. SW.
Horizon is a major sponsor for the event this year, said Mayo.
Tickets can also be purchased at the Columbia Basin Herald, from 8-5 Monday through Friday, located at 813 W. Third Ave.
For more information, call 509-764-9694.