Kids In Distress Duck Fest Derby Presented By JM Family Enterprises, Inc. Returns In 2009

Ducks begin their journey
Ducks begin their journey down the New River during the 2008 Duck Fest Derby

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – Abused and neglected children in our community face incredible challenges, but with your help things could soon be looking ducky. Helping couldn’t be easier as South Florida gears up for the third annual Duck Fest Derby presented by JM Family Enterprises, Inc. to benefit Kids In Distress (KID) of Broward and Palm Beach County.

Duck Fest Derby, which will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2009, from 1 to 4 p.m., promises to be a memorable event for people of all ages when thousands of rubber ducks race down the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The proud ‘adoptive’ parent of the first duck to cross the finish line will drive away in a brand new 2009 Scion xD provided by JM Family Enterprises, Inc. Ducks can be adopted now at KidsInDistress.org for $5 each, and are also available the day of the race.

“Everyone is already ‘quacking’ about this year’s Duck Fest,” says Jennifer Homan, Director of Special Events for Kids In Distress. “It has become a staple of South Florida’s signature Winterfest activities. And with good reason – it’s one of the few events that is concurrently uplifting and beneficial for our community on so many levels.”

The rubber duck race will take place at Esplanade Park, located at 400 SW 2nd Street. in downtown Fort Lauderdale, as the culminating event of an entire day of family-friendly activities including the KID Olympic games, music, food, rock wall, bounce house, carnival games, Wii competition, and more. I-800-PetMeds will have their ‘Your pet could be a star” so four legged friends are welcome too.

While the parent of the winning ‘adopted’ duck paddles away in a brand new Scion xD, runner-up prizes include a scenic blimp ride across the beautiful South Florida skies, a flat screen TV provided by Best Buy, Florida Panthers tickets and Zamboni ride, a $500 IKEA shopping spree, an Apple iPhone and more. But with all duck sales and event proceeds going to benefit kids, the South Florida community is the real winner.

Scion xD presented by JM Family
Duck Fest Grand Prize: 2009 Scion xD (D for “duck”) presented by JM Family Enterprises along with (L to R): Brent Burns EVP JM Family, Lee Sheffield VP Business Development Sterling Bank, and Ginny Miller, Community Relations Director Miller Construction

Sponsors for the 2009 Kids In Distress Duck Fest Derby include JM Family Enterprises, Inc., South Florida Sun-Sentinel, AT&T, RBC Bank, Quantum Marine, Federal Express, Miller Construction, Eastern Financial Florida Credit Union, Crowe Horwath LLP, Mike Sipe Entertainment, Sterling Bank, Best Buy, Panera Bread, SunTrust, Nova Southeastern University, Comerica, Winterfest, Cliff Berry Inc., BankAtlantic, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., BC Surf, Seattle’s Best, Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Advanced Green Technologies, Staples, Stiles Corporation and more.

For more information on how you or your company can be a part of one of the most family favored events of the year, please call Kids In Distress at 954-390-7620 or visit KidsInDistress.org.

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About Kids In Distress
Since 1979, Kids in Distress has had a demonstrated record of caring for and treating abused and neglected children through a full continuum of care that includes emergency shelters, therapeutic services, abuse prevention, foster care and adoption. This year, Kids in Distress provided assistance to 6,475 children and families in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

Media Contact:
Adam Singer
Pierson Grant Public Relations
(954) 776-1999, ext. 231
asinger@piersongrant.com