Bright yellow ducks are a common sight in bathrooms for families with young children, but they also appear once a year in a more public location – the Chicago River – during the annual Chicago Ducky Derby.
The event, set this year for Aug. 6 this year, is crucial for Special Olympics Illinois, and has raised more than $4.8 million for the organization since 2005.
“The Chicago Ducky Derby is our largest day of awareness across Chicagoland for Special Olympics Illinois and our mission,” said Pete Beale-DelVecchio, the organization’s president and CEO for nearly three years.
“Funds raised at the event are critical in supporting those efforts and our work to build a more inclusive world alongside people with intellectual disabilities. Every duck adopted represents an investment in inclusion and creating opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to reach their full potential.”
Each year, participants pay to adopt ducks, which are dropped from a dump truck on the Columbus Drive Bridge into the Chicago River, where the winning duck is plucked from the water about 15 to 20 minutes later by the Chicago Ducky Derby ambassador.
This year, that honor has gone to Becky Cavanagh, of Clarendon Hills, who has participated in Special Olympics Illinois for 13 years in sports such as rhythmic gymnastics, horse riding and more recently swimming.
She was pretty excited to hear about her role at this year’s race. “I screamed at the top of my lungs!” she exclaimed.
Beale-DelVecchio said a duck ambassador is chosen every year as part of putting “athletes at the heart of the Special Olympics Illinois mission.”
“Each year, a duck ambassador is selected for the honor of pulling the winning duck out of the Chicago River, connecting the community to our mission, representing their peers, and highlighting the importance of inclusion in every facet of life,” he explained. “When athletes have support to use their abilities, everyone thrives.”
Cavanagh, who turns 21 in early August, is part of the Darling Ducklings, an athlete-led fundraising team.
“Members of this team serve as advocates for the movement in their communities,” Beale-DelVecchio said. They raise money through community events and public appearances, resulting in about 20% of the duck adoptions each year. “The Darling Ducklings remind us that when athletes lead, they inspire their communities to create real, lasting impact. Becky represents the spirit of inclusion and absolute joy of the Special Olympics movement.”
She has willingly embraced her new role. “I do interviews to raise money and awareness. I do many fundraising events,” she shared. “When you adopt a duck at the Chicago Ducky Derby, you’re helping athletes and opportunities to make friends and to seize the gold.”
The Chicago Board of Trade honored Cavanagh earlier this month by letting her ring the bell to start trading. “That was a lot of fun, and the traders were very generous,” dad Joe Cavanagh said.
Cavanagh also has an ace up her sleeve: In the last 10 years, she’s sold two of the winning ducks.
She keeps her sales pitch simple. “I say ‘Do you want to adopt a duck for Special Olympics?’”
That pitch often is successful. “Most of the time she asks, people say yes, but she does have a card she gives out with a QR code in case people want to think about it or donate later, so they give those out too,” Joe Cavanagh explained.
The organization’s goal is to sell 85,000 ducks, with about one-quarter of those sold so far by the various teams, which range from businesses to families to athletes. “Our team is supposed to get 16,000 and we are at about 8,500 so far, of which there are a couple of kids selling,” he said.
“Becky has had a good year,” he added, noting she’s sold more than 900 ducks. “She’ll probably get a few more because she’s making appearances.”
Family and friends adopt ducks, and they’re sold at offices, ball games and organizations such as the Moose Club in Downers Grove, which was “extraordinarily generous,” he said.
When the ducks get close to the finish line, they’re channeled into a V. “They get lined up, and she picks the winning duck,” Joe Cavanagh said. “Just like any other race, someone can come from behind and get a win.”
Becky’s family was excited she was named the ambassador, “but we also had to figure out the time commitment. We’ve been everywhere, said Joe Cavangh, who is the one who typically takes his daughter to events because of his more flexible work schedule. “He’s amazing,” Becky Cavanagh shared.
Mom Jane Fitzpatrick Cavanagh said it was an easy decision to support her daughter in the new role because it’s for such a good cause. “It’s helped so many kids to be able to do so much. Becky participates in three sports, but they have hundreds of things at Special Olympics from sports to all these athlete leadership classes that Becky goes to,” she said, adding that the athletes gain needed confidence from weekly practices.
“She doesn’t see it as a bad thing that ‘I have to go to practice again.’ She loves going and seeing her friends and interacting with the coaches,” she said.
“They’re constantly helping the individuals to grow and expand their own personal abilities” instead of putting people with special needs into institutions.”
Becky Cavanagh has several jobs. For instance, she is a guest service ambassador for the Chicago Cubs. “I scan tickets, work at Wrigley Field,” she explained. “I greet guests, do security and for the home games and other events at Wrigley like concerts.” She also works at the libraries in Westmont and Downers Grove. “I help with the book drop or I clean books or dry books in the kids’ room.”
In addition to working, she is involved with Transition 99 in Downers Grove, which teaches life and work skills after high school to students with special needs, and takes a class at College of DuPage.
Her mom also pointed to her daughter’s contribution as a volunteer at a local food pantry for the last 12 or 14 years. “She does a lot of things, but it’s only because there have been a lot of things we’re encouraging her to do and learn. That is truly the benefit of Special Olympics. … If you want to do a lot of things, there are lots of things for you to do.”
Jane Fitzpatrick Cavanagh thinks Becky was chosen because she loves what she does. “She loves to support Special Olympics and raise money. … She’s passionate. I think people see her passion and donate money!”
Her daughter clearly loves being involved with the organization. “I have fun at Special Olympics. I have lots of friends,” she said. “It’s fun to be with new friends.”
Beyond the satisfaction of helping Special Olympics Illinois with its mission, duck adopters can vie for prizes such as Chicago Cubs tickets, a $2,500 cash prize and the grand prize: a new Chevy Trax.
All proceeds go directly to the organization. “They help ensure that athletes statewide can participate in programs at no cost to them or their families, including year-round training, regional and state-level competition in 19 sports, health screenings, leadership development and unified programming that brings people with and without intellectual disabilities together,” Beale-DelVecchio said. “We create opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to build confidence, develop friendships and demonstrate their abilities.”
Adoption costs $10 for one duck or $30 for a Quack Pack of six, $60 for a Ducky Dozen, $120 for the Flock Pack of 24 or $1,200 for a Diamond Duck Pack of 240 ducks. To adopt ducks from Becky Cavanagh, visit www.duckrace.com/Chicago/teams/9960/21566. To buy from the general derby link, visit chicagoduckyderby.com.
The Derby Festival begins at 10 a.m. Aug. 6 at Pioneer Court, 401 N. Michigan Ave., with splashdown at 1 p.m. at the Columbus Drive Bridge. “We’ll have live entertainment, souvenirs, food trucks, photo opps, games and more,” Beale-DelVecchio said. We encourage everyone to come out for a good time with family, friends, colleagues and our athletes before grabbing your spot along the Riverwalk to watch the race.”
Joe Cavanagh described it as a “big party that is so fun for everyone,” adding that from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive, “both sides of the river are packed with people watching and cheering. Everyone with a boat is there – the police, fire department. Even the tour boats are there. It’s a big event and draws people from nearby. It’s really a fun afternoon.”
He said people should support Special Olympics and shared what happens during a competition.
“It’s fun to see the competition and getting awards because they’re all cheering for each other. It doesn’t matter if you’re on another team – they cheer for you. You rarely see sportsmanship and people doing it, but in Special Olympics you see it all the time. Special Olympics is so inclusive. It’s a place where everyone belongs, everyone is happy, everyone works together. You get to celebrate everybody’s accomplishments and you support each other.”
“Like a family,” Jane Fitzpatrick Cavanagh added.
Melinda Moore is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
