AskChesapeake

“Rubber Duckie, I’m awfully fond of you!” The Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, Inc. can certainly identify with the sentiment of Sesame Street’s muppet character Ernie, as the organization eagerly awaits the adoption of thousands of little, yellow toy ducks and their subsequent swim on October 18. As the “Top Duck” title sponsor for this important fund-raising event, Chesapeake Energy invites the entire community to flock to the fourth annual “Duck Day on the Trinity.”

With a mighty whoosh, all adopted ducks — $5 for a single duck, $25 for a “quack pack” of 6, $50 for a flock of 12, and $100 for a V.I.D. (Very Important Duck) — will be dropped by crane into the Trinity River from the Lancaster Bridge. It will be quite a sight to see, as approximately 10,000 rubber ducks will travel the Trinity to a collection funnel down river. Duck race officials waiting at the finish line will announce the swiftest competitors and award prizes to the lucky ducks’ adoptive parents.

The duck race is the highlight of a family-friendly festival packed with games, food and entertainment. An expanded Kid Zone area will feature face painting and balloon art for the little ones. Popular attractions, such as a bungee pull and an obstacle course, will cater to the older kids. Approximately 4,000 people attended last year’s event, and even more are expected this year. Festival admission is free to all who participate in the duck adoption process. For more information on duck adoptions, visit online at www.duckday2008.com. All ducks must be adopted prior to the event.

Lee Koch, director of fund development for the Girl Scouts, expressed her appreciation to Chesapeake for their commitment to Duck Day and the Girl Scouts. “I am thrilled,” Koch said. “We are delighted to have Chesapeake join us. What a lot of people don’t realize is that 25 percent of the girls in the Fort Worth region are from underserved communities.” Through this sponsorship, Chesapeake is able to positively affect families who may not receive a direct benefit from the Barnett Shale through mineral ownership. Chesapeake is pleased to be able to assist the Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains to further their mission in building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.