Komatsu America dumped thousands of rubber ducks into the Chicago River in the annual Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby on July 30 in Chicago, Illinois. Komatsu has participated for four years in the derby, which benefits the Illinois Special Olympics.
Komatsu’s HM300-2 30-ton articulated dump truck launched more than 20,000 rubber ducks into the river from the Columbus Drive Bridge, starting the race. Each rubber duck was adopted by a sponsor for five dollars each and launched into the river in a race to see which duck would cross the finish line first.
Sponsors of the winning ducks won trips, complimentary suites in Chicago-area hotels, private dinners, tickets to Chicago sporting events, LCD TV’s and a spa day.
Many companies in the Chicago area held fundraisers and made teams to find sponsors for the rubber ducks. Komatsu employees held a variety of fundraisers for the Olympics and the company matched those funds. The first three rubber duck derbies raised more than $550,000.
For more information on the Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby, visit the event’s website.
