Got questions? We've got answers.
It's United Way of Central West Virginia's biggest splash of the year! Thousands of rubber ducks hit the water, and the first ducks across the finish line win prizes for the folks who adopted them. Every adoption helps neighbors across Central West Virginia.
All proceeds from the Great Rubber Duck Race will benefit individuals and families in Kanawha, Putnam, Boone, Braxton, Clay and Logan counties. They are served by our nonprofit partners or receive direct support from United Way of Central WV.
Tap "Adopt a Duck" on our homepage, pick your pack and check out online. Every duck you adopt goes in the race with its own number.
Everyone who adopts a duck, whether online, in the mail, at a Duck Race booth or in a sponsoring business, is entered into E-Quack, a database that stores all of the information. Next to your name in E-Quack is the number of ducks you have adopted. The tag range is entered into E-Quack and all the numbers are shuffled up. Then, E-Quack automatically assigns the number of ducks you have adopted next to Tag Numbers. Thus, if you adopted 5 ducks, your name will be placed next to 5 different Tag Numbers.
Let's Tag! A few days prior to the race, volunteers will place numbered tags on the bottom of every duck that will be in the duck race. The tags are waterproof labels beginning with a 7 digit number and ending with a 7 digit number. For example: 8580001-8590000.
Tag numbers are automatically and randomly assigned by computer. We want to make sure that no duck has an unfair advantage and the race is not fixed, so to ensure the integrity of the race, tag numbers are never given out. Rest assured, however, that all the ducks you have adopted will be in the water.
If all our ducks have not been adopted by race day, only the number of adopted ducks are in the race.
Race day for 2027 is coming soon, so stay tuned! Last summer the ducks raced in the Kanawha River as part of the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta. They were tossed from the Southside Bridge and floated to shore, and the first 10 ducks through the finish line won some amazing prizes.
A United Way of Central West Virginia staff member will contact you using the information you provided with your duck adoption.
Rubber ducks, silly!
Anyone 18 years and older may adopt a duck.
Absolutely! Every extra duck is another chance to win, so grab a pack for the whole family.
No. After you adopt your duck, the Great Rubber Duck Race team will work hard to train, coach, and make sure each one is ready for race day. After the race, all of the ducks will fly off to their next race somewhere in the United States.
No, you do not. You are welcome to join us on race day to cheer on the flock.
Sorry, no. Get your ducks in before the big day!
The race committee can postpone or reschedule the race. If bad weather or other circumstances keep the race from running, ducks will be selected randomly and winners will be notified by telephone.
Duck Race entries are considered raffle tickets. Raffle tickets are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Please consult with your tax advisor.
Still have questions?
Email kcooper@unitedwaycwv.org or call 304.340.3500. We're happy to help!