Special Olympics Illinois Raises $480K at Chicago Ducky Derby

Special Olympics Illinois Chicago Ducky Derby rubber ducks fundraiser 90,000 ducks

On Thursday, a truck released about 90,000 bright yellow rubber ducks from the Columbus Drive bridge into the Chicago River for the annual Chicago Ducky Derby. The ducks floated for roughly 15 minutes before a winner and a runner‑up were retrieved.

The derby is a fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois. Becky Cavanagh, the event’s ambassador and a 13‑year Special Olympics athlete, lifted the winning duck. Sponsors can purchase a single "lone duck" for $10, which funds a lunch for an athlete, or a "quack pack" of six ducks for $30, which provides gold medals for a team. The event has generated more than $480,000, with the fastest‑duck sponsor winning an SUV and the runner‑up receiving $2,500 in cash. Pete Beale‑DelVecchio, president of Special Olympics Illinois, praised the day as "fantastic" for the athletes.

Entities

Becky Cavanagh · Chicago · Chicago River · Pete Beale‑DelVecchio · Special Olympics Illinois

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] A single “lone duck” sponsorship costs $10 and provides a lunch for an athlete; a “quack pack” of six ducks costs $30 and provides gold medals for a team. internewscast.com · srnnews.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Pete Beale‑DelVecchio is president of Special Olympics Illinois. internewscast.com · srnnews.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The sponsor of the fastest duck wins an SUV, and the runner‑up receives $2,500 in cash. internewscast.com · srnnews.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The ducks floated for about 15 minutes before a winner and a runner‑up were retrieved. internewscast.com · srnnews.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The event is the annual Chicago Ducky Derby, a fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois. internewscast.com · srnnews.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
[● 3 SOURCES] About 90,000 rubber ducks were released from a truck on the Columbus Drive bridge into the Chicago River. internewscast.com · srnnews.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Becky Cavanagh is the Ducky Derby ambassador and a 13‑year Special Olympics athlete who lifted the winning duck. internewscast.com · srnnews.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The fundraiser has raised more than $480,000. internewscast.com · srnnews.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com