WALTHAM September 18, 2009— .At 2 p.m. tomorrow, the Charles River will be invaded by fake fowl.

Close to 1,000 rubber ducks will race down the Charles river in Waltham Education and Beyond Foundation's ``Quack for Education'' fundraiser.

Ducks are $5 each and will be sold before the race tomorrow at noon at the river landing by Margaritas restaurant on Moody Street. The foundation has nearly met its goal of selling 1,000 tickets to raise $5,000 for the Excellence in Education Grant Foundation.

On the day of the race, the ducks will be dumped into the Charles, and where the current will do the rest, moving the ducks toward the finish line - two yellow booms placed in a V with a net to catch the ducks.

The owner of the winning duck will take home a $1,000 cash prize, second place gets two tickets to a Red Sox game and third place wins a $200 savings bond from Watertown Savings Bank.

Ducks finishing fourth through 10th place take home a gift certificate from local merchants. Cash generated from the race benefit the Excellence in Education Grant Program, which funds teacher and parent grant proposals.

Deb Marcou, the foundation's vice president, says the idea - and the ducks - were borrowed from the Waltham Boys & Girls Club, who has held several such contests in the past.

``We chose to do a duck race so all people could participate, because it's only $5. We are excited,'' said Marcou.

The Lions Club will be on hand selling food, and the event will also feature games for kids, and music provided by K.B.D. Entertainment of Waltham.

Foundation President Tom Dusel, who donated his Red Sox tickets as a prize for the fundraiser, will serve as master of ceremonies for tomorrow's event.

The foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides help to students and teachers of Waltham's public schools. Formed in July of 2007, the foundation raises money to help develop programs not funded through tax dollars.

Largely supported by sponsors, teachers apply directly for grant money to fund various initiatives. The program offers small grants up to $1,000 for projects typically benefiting a single classroom, and major grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 to benefit a larger number of students.