This year’s Duck Derby will raise money for King’s DaughtersFoundation Ladies League to renovate and upgrade hospital rooms,but that’s not all.

Through a new program, local youth groups, schools, girl and boyscout troops and other organizations will get a piece of thepie.

“In order to broaden the impact of the Duck Derby on our localcommunity, the sales partnership program was created to give othercharities, civic, service and student groups a chance to alsobenefit from this exciting and unique annual fund raiser,” saidJoAnna Sproles, director of the King’s Daughters Foundation.

Groups signed up to participate in the sales partnership programwill receive $1 for every duck adoption they sell. Approximately 10groups are participating and some have already sold as many as 80ducks.

To participate, the group simply writes the name of theirorganization on the envelope portion of the adoption forms theysell. When the forms are turned in to the Foundation office, thegroup receives credit for the adoptions. The adoptions are totaledafter the Duck Derby, which is scheduled for 6 p.m., Sept. 27, atthe Ole Brook Festival in downtown Brookhaven.

Kellie Patti, troop mother for Girl Scout Troop 108, said thetroop is using the money raised to help members start saving for atrip to Europe.

“This was an easy fund raiser for us with no overhead,” shesaid. “We are selling ducks to benefit the troop while alsobenefiting our community hospital.”

The fund raiser has also served another purpose for EpiscopalChurch of the Redeemer’s Rite 13 youth group, said leader EmilyHenderson.

“We are reaching a lot of people that wouldn’t usually buy,maybe that aren’t’ from this area, but know someone in our youthgroup,” she said.

Students are Mamie Martin Elementary School are looking hard forpotential duck adopters as they compete against one another to seewhich class sells the most.

Rob McCreary, assistant principal, said the effort was goingwell and the students were excited about the fund raiser.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the sales partnershipprogram, can contact Duck Central at 835-9177.