Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 2nd April 2026 Issue no. 1204
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ACI Convention and 'Duck Race' raise $100,000 for charity in honour of ACI's 100th Anniversary
Celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2026, the American Cleaning Institute has already achieved something else of a milestone this year: it used its recent ACI Annual Meeting & Industry Convention to raise $100,000 for The WASH Foundation and DigDeep.
The money was raised through a combination of duck race participation, ticket sales from a keynote lunch session with Mike Rowe and donations generated via Fill it Forward water refill stations throughout the convention. Proceeds from the Charity Duck Race and keynote lunch supported The WASH Foundation, while funds raised through Fill it Forward water refill stations benefited DigDeep.
The $100,000 donation reflects ACI's century-long commitment to improving public health and quality of life - values that have guided the Institute since its founding in 1926. The anniversary year provides an opportunity for ACI and its members to honour that legacy while investing in solutions that address today's hygiene and water access challenges.
Now in its 14th year, the ACI Charity Duck Race - sponsored by Shell Chemical - brought attendees to the Lazy River at River Falls Water Park, where decorated ducks raced toward the finish line as supporters cheered from the sidelines. Proceeds from the event benefit The WASH Foundation, an evolution of Clean the World Foundation, a leader in global health, recycling discarded hygiene products and distributing them to communities in distress around the world.
New this year was the introduction of ‘non-swimming’ Corporate Quack-a-nista ducks, which allowed companies to sponsor and customise ducks without placing them in the water. These creatively designed ducks competed for the People's Choice Award, adding a new dimension of engagement, creativity and friendly competition to the event.
In addition, donations generated through Fill it Forward water refill stations throughout the convention (held at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida) supported DigDeep, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to ensuring all communities in the US have access to clean, running water at home.
"As we celebrate ACI's 100th anniversary, we are proud to honour our legacy by supporting organisations that make a real difference in people's lives," says Jennifer Abril, president & CEO of ACI. "ACI and our member companies are deeply committed to programs and partnerships that improve quality of life for individuals, families and communities."
The ACI is the Home of the US Cleaning Products Industry and represents the $60 billion US cleaning product supply chain. ACI members include the manufacturers and formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in commercial, industrial
& institutional settings and household settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products, and chemical distributors.
12th February 2026