Swim-a-thon Fundraiser Safety Event

May 3rd 2:00-3:30 pm

Shepard Swim School is hosting our 6th Annual Swim-A-Thon! This is the largest fundraiser we host in our facility for our Scholarship Fund.  The purpose of this event is to raise money for the Shepard Swim School Scholarship Fund, as well as bring awareness to water safety and its importance in our community! We are inviting your family to participate to help raise funds for a life saving cause as well as raise money to benefit your own swim account!

Pick up your packets at the swim school!

WHAT?

We are asking for 100% Participation in this event! Swimmers will swim 30 ft. laps for 10 full minutes. Non air filled flotation may be used. Parents will count laps during the swim time. Number of laps will be used to determine the amount earned.  All funds raised from the Swim-A-Thon will be split 50/50.  Fifty percent of each individual's donations will go to the Shepard Swim School Scholarship Fund and the other fifty percent will be applied to the swimmer’s Swim School account in the form of credit that can be used for classes, camps, clinics and merchandise! For example: If a child collects $100 in total pledges, $50 goes into the Scholarship Fund to help keep our community safer, and $50 is added directly to the student’s account; it’s a WIN/WIN!  All ages, including Waterbabies are welcome to participate. (A parent must be in the water with children 3 and under.)  Our swim belts can be used for students still learning to swim independently. 

WHY?

Shepard Swim School offers a Scholarship Program for families in our community who meet certain criteria in order to provide swim lessons for children who might not otherwise have the opportunity.  Surveys have shown that 79% of children from families earning less than $50,000 per year tend to have low to no swimming ability and are therefore at a higher risk for drowning. With our Scholarship Fund, we hope to help significantly lower that number in our community! 

WHO TO ASK?

Who can you ask for pledges? EVERYONE! Friends, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, parent’s co-workers, and of course MOM & DAD! Some folks may like to donate cent or dollar amounts per lap or they might offer a flat rate amount.  You may also want to reach out to local businesses to ask for sponsorship.  Remember, 50% earned directly benefits your account! Make sure you let them know you appreciate their participation! 

HOW?

When you approach, you could say, “Hi, I’m (your name) and I am participating in a Swim-A-Thon at Shepard Swim School to raise money for the Shepard Swim School Scholarship Fund.  Would you be willing to sponsor me? My goal is to swim (# of 30 foot laps in 10 minutes).  You can pledge per lap or a flat amount.  I’d really appreciate your support!”. 

PAYMENT:

Cash is the only payment method Shepard will accept for this fundraiser.  ALL MONEY COLLECTED WILL BE DUE NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2025.  If you have some sponsors that have not sent their pledge money to you by the deadline, please make your payment and collect from individuals.  Making a copy of your pledge form to keep at home is a great suggestion if you are collecting money after the deadline.   You can collect money at any time.  All ‘per lap’ donations will be collected after the event.  Laps swam will be recorded during the event so you can collect the correct amount of “per lap” money owed afterwards. 

Safety Day Vendors: We will have several vendors at the facility that day to talk about safety in different aspects!