The Rotary Club of Daniel Island has its ducks in a row, so much so that the nine year old organization is gaining global acclaim. The club recently learned it had earned the prestigious Rotary International Significant Achievement Award for its annual Charleston Duck Race event. The honor is bestowed upon only one club worldwide.

"My first reaction was shock, followed by humility, and, of course, pride," said Bob Wood, who will take over the reins as president of the Daniel Island Rotary in July. "We are all proud of the work we are able to do in the community and internationally as a result of the money raised by the Duck Race. But we realize that there are over 30,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide, virtually all of whom do great work. Thus, it is surprising and humbling to me that we have achieved this special recognition."

The Daniel Island Rotary’s Charleston Duck Race began in 2007 and has fast become one of the premiere fundraising events in the Charleston area. As part of the Duck Race festivities, thousands of rubber ducks are dropped from atop the James B. Edwards Bridge into the Wando River below. A small bobbing yellow "sea" then moves towards the finish line near the Daniel Island Children’s Park pier, where the top ducks are carefully monitored to determine their exact placement. Prior to the race, ducks are "adopted" for $10 each and a chance to win multiple cash prizes, including a million dollar grand prize. Daniel Island resident Bart Jackson, a former Rotary club member, was part of the original "Duck Race" creation team.

"It was very gratifying helping coordinate the first annual charity duck race," said Jackson. "But it never would have happened without the trusting and dedicated support of the entire Rotary Club of Daniel Island and the courageous sponsors who I don’t think knew exactly what we were doing until that rookie team of 10,000 rubber ducks dropped from the bridge. I accept no thanks for any part I played in getting this growing fundraiser started, but I certainly am proud of what Rotary is doing by improving on the original idea year after year."

Since the first event, the race has brought in over $200,000 for local charities such as Meals on Wheels, East Cooper Community Outreach and United Methodist Relief. The money also helps fund food drives, literacy and school support projects.

"It addresses a significant need in our local community," wrote Daniel Island Rotary Club member Pat Richards, in the application she submitted for the award on the club’s behalf. "…We select beneficiaries who serve the lower Berkeley County area in nutrition, housing, literacy and health."

When Richards read the criteria for the award, she knew the Daniel Island event would fit the bill perfectly.

"When I looked at it, I said it’s like they’ve written this for our Duck Race! That’s why it jumped out at me. It was as though they designed the criteria just for us."

Club director Bill Stevens, who is a prior chair of the Duck Race, is perhaps one of the event’s biggest cheerleaders. The Rotary International Award just solidifies what he has felt all along about the power of community.

"This is wonderful recognition," he said. "This year’s Duck Race will push the total amount raised for charitable works to over $400,000. That means there are countless ‘real winners’ across our community."

The Duck Race now has support from four other local Rotary organizations in Charleston, Mount Pleasant (East Cooper Breakfast Rotary), North Charleston (Breakfast Rotary), and Summerville.

"Our club was honored to receive this award," added Bob Welsh, current club president. "This award, in my opinion, is a culmination of this year’s efforts and the past three successful years of our Duck Race. We have built it from one club on Daniel Island to now include five Rotary Clubs in our metropolitan area…I applaud our club and the other clubs that have joined us for their commitment and dedication to this event."

"Your project represents the very best work in your district and the Rotary world," wrote John Kenny, president of Rotary International, in a congratulatory letter announcing the award to the Daniel Island Club. "The efforts of the Rotary Club of Daniel Island guarantee that Rotary’s tradition of dedicated service will long continue."

Jackson predicts the Rotary’s ducks will one day have an even bigger stage in the Charleston area.

"I can’t wait until Rotary is closing down the Copper River Bridge to drop 100,000 or more ducks to race in Charleston Harbor," he said. "Do people realize that if Rotary gets 30,000 ducks adopted this year at $10 each that will be $300,000? That is huge!"

There is still time to adopt one or more members of the Rotary’s fine-feathered flock for this year’s race, scheduled to take place on June 12. For additional information, visit the event’s official website at www.charlestonduckrace.com.