Swim Across America is excited to celebrate our team captains this year by introducing a team captain package! Once you register your team, you’ll receive the package in the mail that includes a new SAA baseball cap (pictured) and resources to be successful.
We hope you’ll be signing up to lead a team again this year and receiving one soon! There is also a new Team Captain Corner page on the website, where you can find everything from email templates to use with your teammates and donors, to online tools and social media resources. You can check out the page at www.swimacrossamerica.org/captains.
Carolyn Jaenisch, Caitlin Chestler, Gregory Chestler & Steve Chestler Swim Across America – Nassau/Suffolk 1 year with Swim Across America Steve 65; Raised over $100,000 with Team Carolyn
“We are looking forward to joining a community dedicated to fighting cancer, the disease that took Carolyn Jaenisch from us, while simultaneously doing something she loved : swimming.”
Carolyn Jaenisch’s diagnosis of Terminal Adenocarcinoma in July 2021 came as a shock to the entire family. She was an avid swimmer who swam with Long Island masters and Excel Swim Club for the past 21 years on Long Island. When she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer and had her first back operation she was told she would be swimming again in 2 months. Carolyn was all about family and swimming.
So when her family went looking for a charity event, they saw the SAA-Sound to Cove swim at Pryibil Beach on July 31, 2022, and got in touch with Swim Across America CEO Rob Butcher and local event chair Kevin Shine to learn more and make a plan to participate. Carolyn was so excited to get involved with Swim Across America.
Carolyn sadly passed away in November of 2021, just 4 months after her diagnosis, and before she could witness her family swimming in her honor. Carolyn’s passing left behind her husband, Steven Chestler, 24-year old son Gregory and 19-year old daughter Caitlin; and they are the founders of Team Carolyn for Swim Across America.
This July will be Team Carolyn’s first year participating in a Swim Across America event. “We are looking forward to joining a community dedicated to fighting cancer, the disease that took Carolyn Jaenisch from us, while simultaneously doing something she loved : swimming” says Steve Chestler. Steve, Caitlin, Gregory and other members of Team Carolyn have rallied together to raise an amazing $100,000 (and counting) to support cancer research and clinical trials.
“We know she would be honored that she has been supported and loved so much.”
Swim Across America is celebrating 35 years of impact in 2022. SAA has raised $100 million since its inception in 1987 to support cancer research and clinical trials across the U.S. Please contact Jeni Howard at jhoward@jhowardpr.com for media inquiries.
Swim Across America is excited to celebrate our top fundraisers with the 2023 WaveMaker gift! Swimmers and volunteers who raise $1,000 or more will receive an insulated 32 oz Wide-Mouth Hydro Flask water bottle.
As part of the WaveMaker club, we want you to show your SAA pride year-round with a Hydro Flask perfect for any occasion. Ideal for everyday and outdoor adventure, the Hydro Flask Wide-Mouth vacuum water bottle packs 32 oz. of hydration, and keeps your beverage hot or cold for hours. Want to take this awesome item home with you? Register today and set your fundraising goal to WaveMaker!
Make Waves to Fight Cancer while satisfying your required minimum distribution.
What is a QCD?
A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is a distribution of funds from your IRA (excluding an ongoing SEP or SIMPLE IRA) directly to a qualified charitable organization, such as Swim Across America. Since the gift goes directly to the qualified charity without passing through your hands, the dollar amount of the donation may be excluded from your taxable income up to a maximum of $100,000 annually, with some exceptions. Please consult your tax advisor for information regarding your specific exceptions.
If you are 70.5 years or older, you can make tax-free gifts to Swim Across America of up to $100,000 from your IRA. Your donation will count toward your minimum required distribution.
How do I make a QCD to Swim Across America?
Contact your IRA custodian and request a direct transfer to:
Swim Across America, Inc. 8508 Park Road #389 Charlotte, NC 28210 Tax ID number: 22-3248256
Do not withdraw the funds and make a contribution yourself, or you will have to report the withdrawal as taxable income. If you are requesting the transfer at the end of the tax year, allow enough time for the transfer to complete by December 31.
Please note: we are not in a position to give formal tax advice, and we strongly advise you to have these gifts reviewed by your own qualified financial or tax advisors.
Swim Across America is excited to celebrate our top fundraisers with the 2023 WaveMaker gift! Swimmers and volunteers who raise $1,000 or more will receive an insulated 32 oz Wide-Mouth Hydro Flask water bottle.
As part of the WaveMaker club, we want you to show your SAA pride year-round with a Hydro Flask perfect for any occasion. Ideal for everyday and outdoor adventure, the Hydro Flask Wide-Mouth vacuum water bottle packs 32 oz. of hydration, and keeps your beverage hot or cold for hours. Want to take this awesome item home with you? Register today and set your fundraising goal to WaveMaker!
SAA My Way is our new virtual offering where you decide your activity and timeline to help us fight cancer. After you get registered with a $50 self-donation, we’ll send you an SAA Swag Bag to show off your spirit and set you up for #SAAMyWay success. (Note: this virtual participation type is for those that don’t plan on swimming at an SAA open water swim.)
Here’s what you can expect in the mail shortly after you register:
1. Swim Across America Shirt
Enjoy the softest tri-blend around with the popular Swim Across America shirt in the size you select at registration.
2. SAA My Way Toolkit
Learn everything you need to know about how to pick an activity or challenge and how to share and inspire to make sure your fundraising makes the biggest impact!
3. SAA VINYL CAR STICKER & BUTTON
Show your love on your car, laptop, backpack or jacket with the sticker and button we’ll be sending to help you spread the word about SAA!
Swim Across America is excited to celebrate 36 years of impact and we want to see you hit WaveMaker status in 2023. WaveMakers commit to hitting a higher fundraising goal and bring that same energy to SAA events! Swimmers and volunteers who raise $1,000 or more will receive an insulated 32 oz Wide-Mouth Hydro Flask water bottle this year. Register today and set your fundraising goal to WaveMaker!
What better way to make someone feel special this holiday season than making a difference in the fight against cancer in their name and providing them with a special treat! Swim Across America is making it easy for you to do so this Giving Tuesday!
Here’s how it works:
1. MAKE A DONATION
Donate $100 or more by #GivingTuesday (deadline of December 1st). Select a friend or family member to honor with your gift.
2. We Send a HOLIDAY GIFT
Your friend receives a holiday gift filled with chocolates and a card letting them know of your thoughtful donation.
3. YOUR IMPACT
Your donation helps Swim Across America fund cancer research. Your friend will appreciate the goodwill of your gesture.
In 2020, Swim Across America transitioned from open water swims to fun and exciting virtual challenges in each city. We’re highlighting some of the best ‘Making Waves to Fight Cancer’ stories with Swim Across America this year!
Our generous Affiliate Partners support the Swim Across America mission year-round. When you make purchases through these stores and portals, SAA receives a percentage of each sale back. You can learn more about how each affiliate partner works below.
If you would like to become an affiliate partner of Swim Across America, contact us at info@swimacrossamerica.org.
Visit SAA’s updated official store at SwimOutlet.com/SAA to get your wetsuit, goggles and swimming gear. First-time customers get an extra 10% off – PLUS a portion of your sale from the official store is donated to Swim Across America.
When first visiting AmazonSmile, customers are prompted to select a charitable organization from over one million eligible organizations. In order to browse or shop at AmazonSmile, customers must first select a charitable organization. For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the customer’s selected charitable organization. Make sure you bookmark the AmazonSmile page as your homepage so all purchases are recorded to give back to Swim Across America!
Search for the charity you would like to support, including Swim Across America! Your gift goes to PayPal Giving Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity. PayPal covers all transaction fees.
PayPal will deliver 100% of your donation to your chosen charity.
PayPal Giving Fund will issue your donation receipt. PayPal will share your name and email with the charity you help, so they can thank you. Or you can remain anonymous if you choose.
You can further support Orca and Swim Across America by using the code SAA10 at orca.com to save 10% on wetsuits, gear and more. Now through June 30th, all purchases with this code will result in 10% being donated back to Swim Across America!
Simply navigate to the Humble Store (video games) and then choose the “Charity” tab towards the top of the page. From there you can search and choose which charity you’d like to support through your Humble Store purchases. You can choose which charity you’d like to support, including Swim Across America, with the PayPal Giving Fund!
Simply decide what causes or charities you want to support—then sell and shop with a purpose. eBay for Charity has partnered with the PayPal Giving Fund to make it easy for sellers to donate 10% to 100% of your item’s final sale price to a certified charity.
1. SELECT CHARITY
Seller picks the charity and the donation percentage when listing an item.
2. SELL & SHIP
Item sells
Buyer pays full amount to seller
Seller ships item to the buyer
3. DONATE
After the transaction is complete (approx. 21 days), PayPal Giving Fund will automatically collect the donation from the seller’s PayPal account*.
Once a month PayPal Giving Fund will combine and deliver 100% of all donations collected for that charity.
Swim Across America 