Charlotte, NC – November 10, 2016 – By meeting key standards of board oversight, finances, results reporting and fundraising appeals, Swim Across America achieved accreditation by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. This accreditation signifies that Swim Across America is deserving of donor trust as they are a well-run nonprofit organization.
“Our relationship with our donors is rooted in trust,” commented Rob Butcher, CEO of Swim Across America. “We initiated the process with BBB Wise Giving Alliance and are pleased to share that we meet the standard of non-profit excellence. We are proud to earn the ability to display the BBB accreditation seal.”
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance (BBB WGA) is the nation’s only comprehensive charity evaluator, assisting donors in making sound giving decisions. Donors know they can trust a charity if it is accredited by the BBB WGA. Their broad standards go beyond what the law requires and dives deeper than other charity monitoring organizations. Each BBB WGA charity report process involves a rigorous review using 20 holistic BBB Charity Standards, interaction with charity officials about corrective actions needed to address deficiencies, and quality control measures to assure report accuracy. Thousands of charities have reports available to the public at Give.org.
“The public can be assured that every charity evaluation is completed with careful, objective analysis of charity information,” says Art Taylor, president and CEO of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, “By achieving accreditation, Swim Across America has earned public trust having demonstrated its commitment to sound governance, transparency and achieving its mission.”
Swim Across America was excited to participate in the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF) Convention in Las Vegas. See if you can spot Olympic gold medalist Tyler Clary representing SAA at the golf tournament.
Day 2 of the NCASEF Convention in Las Vegas had the Swim Across America team and Olympic Gold Medalist Tyler Clary representing the great partnership that SAA has with the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees.
The convention concluded with a banquet that included a speech by SAA’s Rob Butcher on the impact of the partnership we have with NCASEF in the fight against cancer.
SAA Family Tree is a monthly focus on stories that display the impact all the members of the Swim Across America family have both locally and nationally. If you have a story or link you’d like to share, please send here.
Olympians Kristy Kowal and Heather Petri are mentioned in the same breath as Taylor Swift in this Boston Herald wrap-up.
SAA – Atlanta’s Event Director Megan Melgaard and Olympian Doug Gjertsenstopped by CBS46 to get everyone to Lake Lanier Islands on Sept. 17.
Brian Boyle writes #WhyISwim for the Huffington Post – look for Brian at SAA -Baltimore.
SAA – Atlanta’s Sheri Hart makes waves in Simply Buckhead magazine.
We are Swimmers, we are Friends, we are Families…We are TEAM HOPE.
TEAM HOPE in 2004 at North Hempstead CC
WE ARE SWIMMERS…
Mike Ford was your typical Swim Across America participant in 2000, when he swam with his daughter Keira in the Long Island Sound event as part of Team Doyle to support a family friend dealing with cancer.
After participating a few years in both the Long Island Sound and Sound to Cove swims, in 2004 Ford’s mission changed when three close friends were stricken with cancer. He was inspired to do more and created TEAM HOPE.
Nothing about Mike Ford’s Swim Across America story has been typical since then. Ford has kept the TEAM HOPE’s singular mission of fighting cancer focused and organized through the peaks and valleys over the last 13 years, and there have been plenty of both. TEAM HOPE has persevered to recruit and fundraise in larger numbers and will celebrate hitting the $1 million milestone as a team at the Sound to Cove benefit swim this week.
WE ARE FRIENDS…
The original core of TEAM HOPE members were North Hempstead Country Club members and staff, originally made up of 28 swimmers plus kayakers and volunteers. With North Hempstead as their unofficial home, they participated in the NCAC pool swim and the Sound to Cove open water swim and raised $30,000.
Over the years, some traditions have emerged that make TEAM HOPE special: the annual dedication board with its inspirational messages, the plaque that goes to the outstanding team member annually and of course, the large amounts of pasta that have evolved into club-wide barbecues.
In 2014, the ‘unofficial home’ of TEAM HOPE, North Hempstead Country Club, officially became the third swim to become a part of the family. Now TEAM HOPE participates in three swims annually and is fundraising more than ever.
As TEAM HOPE has grown, Ford has been inspired by the hundreds of swimmers, the generosity of thousands of donors and the countless hours given by the volunteers.
Ford is quick to point out TEAM HOPE wouldn’t be where it is today without the dedication of Laureen Keenan. He credits Keenan for assisting him tirelessly over the years, helping him stay organized with all volunteers and ultimately taking TEAM HOPE to greater heights.
(l-r) Marty Bergin, Laureen Keenan, Dr. Marc Symons, Mike Ford
WE ARE FAMILY…
TEAM HOPE emphasizes family participation. This year, of the 92 team swimmers, 59 are participating with another family member. Ford is particularly proud of the year that three generations of swimmers from one family swam together. TEAM HOPE is family.
In fall 2005, Ford was sadly struck by a cruel irony when his wife Patti was diagnosed with cancer. The fight against cancer became very personal. Over the ensuing decade, Ford continued pushing TEAM HOPE forward as Patti faced her own struggle against cancer until her heartbreaking passing this year. The $1 million milestone is more than just a number for Mike, his daughter Keira and TEAM HOPE.
TEAM HOPE in 2016
WE ARE TEAM HOPE…
As can be imagined, the $1 million fundraising milestone hasn’t been accomplished without many poignant moments. Ford continues to swim with TEAM HOPE and has adopted the custom of inscribing his swim cap with those he swims for.
Despite the bittersweet start to the year, there are signs that HOPE springs eternal. The timing of the $1 million milestone serendipitously occurs during North Hempstead Country Club’s centennial celebration. The breakthroughs in immunotherapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering (a TEAM HOPE beneficiary) are making national news. It’s easy to see how Ford easily finds inspiration by those that have surrounded TEAM HOPE:
His friend that courageously battled cancer and returned to swim with TEAM HOPE and regards the annual swim as his “most important day of the summer”
Father Rich Henning, the “Paddling Padre” that penned the TEAM HOPE Prayer and kayaked for a number of years
The 8-year-old that asked in lieu of gifts and presents for his birthday and his First Communion, that donations be made to TEAM HOPE and raised over $850 that year
The lifeguard that participated in two NHCC pool swims and was proud to tell Ford she has an internship in Oncology as she finishes her nursing school degree
As TEAM HOPE gets to over 90 members this year and hits the million dollar mark, we appreciate and recognize the commitment to the cause by Mike Ford and his incredible team. There are a million reasons to believe that this is only the beginning.
If you are moved to help Mike Ford and TEAM HOPE reach $1 million raised this year, you can contribute here.
The Long Island Sound Pool Swims are a huge part of the success of SAA – Long Island Sound! We want to give thanks and recognition to the hundreds of swimmers, volunteers and donors that make all these incredible benefit pool swims happen. Get all the Swim Across America news on the Sound as it hits at the SAA – LIS Facebook page.
Sarah Cohen participated for the first time and in her own words:
I swam for my first time this year with SAA in the Lake Isle pool swim. I swam to support my mom who was diagnosed in April with metastatic melanoma. My partner, best friend and I made this video for her, and all the people who donated, of the swim … SAA has brought me some relief- a place to put my energy and focus. A way to channel all the chaos that cancer causes in a family members life- and funnel it into something good and honorable. My mom was in the hospital most of the summer, including the day of the swim- but she is home now- still battling. I hope this video can bring strength and hope.
If you are more of a video tutorial person, check out what Sterling Ralph (Jr. Board member of SAA -Atlanta) created to make the process simple to follow.
SAA Family Tree is a monthly focus on stories that display the impact all the members of the Swim Across America family have both locally and nationally. If you have a story or link you’d like to share, please send here.
The Tampa Open Water benefit swim and relationship with the Central Florida 7-Eleven Franchise Owners Association was featured in the national FOA magazine.
We’re excited to have members of the SAA family take turns running the SAA account on Snapchat. We have highlights from Greenwich and Boston for you to catch up on. If you haven’t started following – do so now at snapchat.com/add/saaswim or use this snap code:
Members of the Swim Across America family are active in their communities. SAA on the Scene shares stories from the “dry side” of our events where the SAA mission to make waves to defeat cancer is honored and recognized. Feel free to send submissions for future posts here.
Gerry Oakes Swim Across America Lifetime Achievement Award celebration
May 26th
Thank you to Gerry Oakes for nearly 20 years of service. It is our privilege to recognize you with a Lifetime Achievement Award!
Craig Beardsley, Gerry Oakes, Matt Vossler
Gerry Oakes, Matt Vossler
Pam Danbusky reading a letter from Janel Jorgensen McArdle
Nantucket Day Celebration
Rose & Crown, Nantucket, May 11th
In the annual Nantucket Day celebration, the event committee was able to get 25 sign-ups at the event and had some good social media buzz going in the community.
L-R: Jim Pignato (Co-Event Director), Stacey Williams (SAA-Nantucket Volunteer), Jill Roethke (Co-Event Director), Kate Bartleman (Nantucket Cottage Hospital), Kristen Dussault (SAA-Nantucket Committee Member), Charlene Thurston (PASCON), Beth Moyer (Nantucket Cottage Hospital) and Ginnia Faria (PASCON).
Swim Across America Visit to beneficiary Moffitt Cancer Center
Tampa, May 2oth
Rob Butcher, Amy Krakauer, Angie Lankton and family, Dr. Shari Pilon-Thomas, Megan Melgaard, Michael Jorgensen, Ryan Baucom, Eric Wunderlich, Javed Saleemi and Craig Cordell.
San Diego 7-Eleven FOA Golf Tournament
Tampa, May 12th
Mark Gramlich, Susan Davis, Olympian Andrea Dickson, Olympian Ryan Berube, Diana Thomas, Falon Lesczcynski
Charlotte, NC – November 10, 2016 – By meeting key standards of board oversight, finances, results reporting and fundraising appeals, Swim Across America achieved accreditation by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. This accreditation signifies that Swim Across America is deserving of donor trust as they are a well-run nonprofit organization.
Swim Across America 