The Peabody Hotel may be well known for its duck walk, but the Collierville Literacy Council prefers a duck race! The CLC is hosting its Second Annual Amazing Duck Race fundraiser on Wednesday, August 11 at 5 p.m. at the YMCA at Schilling Farms in Collierville. The rain date is Thursday, August 12.

The concept behind the Duck Race is both simple and fun. CLC supporters adopt plastic ducks for a $5 donation apiece and receive a numbered ticket for each duck. On the evening of the race, numbered ducks are released into the YMCA’s outdoor swimming pool. The duck that waddles across the finish line first is the winner, and the donor who adopted that duck receives a $250 cash prize. There are $150 and $75 prizes for the second- and third-place ducks.

Supporters can watch a livestream of the race on the CLC Facebook page, and winners will be announced live and posted on Facebook and at www.colliervilleliteracy.org. Ducks are available from any CLC board member, at Patriot Bank and Renasant Bank in Collierville, and online at https://www.colliervilleliteracy.org/events.

Donations benefit CLC programs for students, families and non-native English speakers. Each generous gift has a direct impact on their mission to enrich communities and empower individuals through literacy: $25 supports a student assessment, $50 covers a teacher’s manual and student workbook for English classes, $75 buys a phonics kit for reading practice, $250 covers a reading intervention kit, and $500 pays for a semester of immersive communication and culture classes.

CLC Executive Director Penny Aronson said she looks forward to another fun event for a great cause. “Last year’s Amazing Duck Race was a big success, and we’ve heard from a lot of people asking when they could get involved this year,” she said. “Thanks to our generous volunteers and sponsors, we’re ready for our ducks to hit the water once again. Since we just recently reopened our doors to students, it’s the perfect time for the community to support programs that make a proven positive difference in the lives of kids and adults who need literacy support.” 

This year’s Amazing Duck Race is sponsored by YMCA at Schilling Farms, A-Team Roofing and Carrie Moore-AllState Insurance.

About the Collierville Literacy Council

The nonprofit Collierville Literacy Council has provided literacy programs in the Mid-South for over 30 years. Along with helping adults learn English as a Second Language, it provides intervention and tutoring for school-age students. These innovative programs provide life-changing skills and support that help our community eradicate poverty, reduce crime, improve health disparities and promote a living wage. To learn more, visit ColliervilleLiteracy.org or follow on social media: @colliervilleliteracy (Facebook), @literacycville (Twitter) @colliervilleliteracy (Instagram) and @collierville-literacy-council (LinkedIn).