Popular Annual Duck Race Begins United Way Month In Milford

MILFORD, CT — Milford United Way is involved in three things that impact Milford the most, food insecurity, housing instability and access to mental health.

“This year, we are supporting many of the organizations we have supported in the past, but we are also supporting new organizations,” Barry Berman said, Milford United Way CEO.

The United Way of Milford helps support the organizations through the annual Milford United Way Duck Race.

The Milford United Way Duck Race, presented by TrinityPoint Wealth, is scheduled for June 3 at 1:30 p.m. at the Memorial Bridge in Milford, where up to 10,000 plastic ducks will be set loose.

“We’ve had meetings about the start time because the tide is important,” Berman said. “If it’s low or high, the ducks won’t go anywhere. So our estimated time is 1:30 p.m., but we will have festivities starting at noon.”

Berman said there will be two races, a general duck race and a high-stakes duck race.

“The ticket prices for the general duck race are $5,” he said. “For the high-stakes duck race, we have a limited number of tickets priced at $100.”

In the high-stakes duck race, people can win $2,500 for first place, $1,500 for second and $1,000 for third place.

The general duck race has 10,000 tickets available, with prizes ranging from a 65-inch TV to an Apple iPad.

Historically, the Duck Race has been a one-day event, but Berman said they are starting something new this year with the United Way of Milford.

“Instead of just making the Duck Race a one-day event, we are making June Milford United Way Month,” he said. “We will have different events in June and are working on that now.”

Berman said they plan on having round-up programs at grocery stores, fundraising events and working with local businesses to have a percentage of the proceeds sold in the day go towards Milford United Way.

“This enables us to start the month with the Duck Race and have activities going throughout the month,” he said.

The idea to have June be United Way Month is two-fold; not only is it to fundraise but to continue to raise awareness of the United Way.

“I want people in Milford to know how important the United Way in Milford is and what the United Way in Milford does,” he said. “Part of June is an awareness campaign to help the people understand what the United Way does.”