- Annual charity event supports global hygiene and community health initiatives as ACI marks a century of industry leadership and impact
As part of its 100th anniversary celebration in 2026, the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) hosted its 2026 ACI Annual Meeting & Industry Convention at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida. In recognition of this centennial milestone, ACI members collectively donated $100,000 to advance access to hygiene, health and clean water.
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, a total of $100,000 was raised. 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 honor 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 LP - 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 customize 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 supported DigDeep, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring all communities in the United States have access to clean, running water at home.
“As we celebrate ACI’s 100th anniversary, we are proud to honor our legacy by supporting organizations that make a real difference in people’s lives,” said 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 American Cleaning Institute® (ACI – www.cleaninginstitute.org) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $60 billion U.S. cleaning product supply chain. ACI members include the manufacturers and formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and chemical distributors. ACI serves the growth and innovation of the U.S. cleaning products industry by advancing the health and quality of life of people and protecting our planet. ACI achieves this through a continuous commitment to sound science and being a credible voice for the cleaning products industry.