South Mountain YMCA’s Duck Race Brings Community Together to Impact Local Families

By: Mollie Shauger | Tuesday, June 27, 2023 | News

South Mountain Y District Executive Director James Goodger passes a check for the Ellie & Charlie Gianni Impact Grant to Elise Joy, Co-Founder/Executive Director of Girls Helping Girls. Period. with other GHGP board members and Y staff.

MAPLEWOOD, NJ - The beloved South Mountain YMCA Duck Race returned to Maplewood on Memorial Day, raising $27,384 for local children and families through duck sponsorships, ticket and T-shirt sales, prize and individual donations. 

This year’s sold-out event began with race participants, decked out in duck-themed clothing and accessories, marching with the community in the town’s Memorial Day Parade before the race kicked off at Memorial Park. A total of 4,200 rubber ducks were released down the river, grouped into six heats. 

“The Duck Race is a highlight of the Y's calendar year, celebrating the power of community while also raising funds to support local families and youth so they can access the support and services they need to thrive,” said James Goodger, District Executive Director at the South Mountain YMCA. “Thank you to the amazing Y staff team, Board of Managers, sponsors, prize donors, all the volunteers, township officials, and friends of the Y. Together we impacted many lives in one day.” 

The annual Duck Race brings staff, volunteers, township leaders, businesses and community organizations together for a fun family experience and great cause. Proceeds go toward the Y’s financial assistance program, which helps make Y programs like child care and summer camp affordable for families with extenuating circumstances. In 2022 alone, the South Mountain Y awarded over $364,000 in direct financial assistance, with 1 in 10 children in summer camps and 1 in 8 children in child care programs receiving assistance. 

This year’s event also honored the life and legacy of Charlie Gianni, Duck Race co-founder, who passed away in April. A grant is now named in honor of Charlie and his wife Eleanor, the Ellie & Charlie Gianni Community Impact Grant. This year’s grant recipient is the nonprofit Girls Helping Girls. Period., which received $5,000 of Duck Race proceeds. The organization works to provide menstrual products to those in need, educate people about period poverty, and eliminate the stigma surrounding periods.

"GHGP got its start in South Orange/Maplewood and we've always felt the love and support of the community. We are thrilled to receive this grant and be connected to the Duck Race, something our family has loved for years. We can't wait to get started bringing workshops to the young people and families of the Y,” said Elise Joy, Executive Director of Girls Helping Girls. Period.

Duck Race sponsors included Creating Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct, Maplewood Rotary, Metro YMCA of the Oranges, the Gianni Family, The Local Yarn Store, Air Aerial Fitness, CODA Kitchen & Bar, Lyn Your Face, Maplewood Country Club, Maplewood Mercantile, Marigold Lifeworks, Morrow Memorial Preschool, ReMerch, SOMEA, Toro Plumbing and Mechanical, Village Trattoria, Weichert Realtors Maplewood, Brave Floral, Bethany Joseph Elder Care Consulting, Carter Smile Pediatric Dentistry, CTK College Coach, Dr. Gerry Gonsalves, DMD, Elaine Cataneo Education Consultant, Eventage, Executive Video, General Store Shops & Cafe, Joy Yagid Photography, Kitchen Table, Ramas Climate, South Orange Downtown, The Able Baker, The Urban Cyclery Shop, N&K Prime Marketplace, Bass Family Chiropractic, PC, Claire Sinclair’s Kindergarten Class in Memory of Charlie Gianni, DJ Mike Levitt Entertainment, Good Crowd Events, Jeffrey H. Goldsmith, Esq., Julie Erickson, Career & Executive Coach - MyRightFitJob.com, Lotus Petals Floral Design, LLC, Maplewood Bike Shop, Mona Lisa Framing, Park Wood Diner, Rock Spa, Rubies Duties, Sue Blodgett Coldwell Banker, the Gedeon Family, The Meaghers of Maplewood, and the Zollman Family. 

For more information about the Duck Race, visit www.metroymcas.org/south-mountain-ymca/duck-race/.

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ABOUT THE Y

Established in 1885, the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges invests in its diverse communities to promote wellness, safety and quality of life for children, adults and seniors. Its seven branches in East Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, New Milford, Hardyston, Stillwater and Wayne are committed to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility through an array of programs. Some 35,000 people belong to the Metro Y, which awards more than $2 million annually in direct and indirect financial assistance.