Save The Bay establishes Swim The Bay Scholarship to support young swimmers interested in participating in the 43rd annual Swim on July 27
NEWPORT, R.I. – July 3, 2019 – Thanks to the support of Philip Weinstein, the Harold A. Winstead Charitable Trust and other sponsors, Save The Bay has established the Swim The Bay Scholarship. First-time Swim participants, aged 15-21, who pledge to raise $200 can apply to receive a $200 match towards the event’s $400 fundraising minimum. The Swim, now in its 43rd year, challenges participants to raise funds and complete an open-water swim from Newport to Jamestown in support of Save The Bay’s mission to protect and improve Narragansett Bay.
“We want young swimmers to have the opportunity to experience the joy that comes from completing a 1.7-nautical-mile, cross-Bay swim,” explained Save The Bay Events Manager Leanne Danielsen. “While the event is first and foremost a fundraiser for Save The Bay’s education, advocacy, and habitat restoration efforts, it is also a celebration of Narragansett Bay and the improvements that have been made in its waters over the last 50 years.
“Swimmers of all ages deserve the chance to participate in this celebration, which is why we’re so excited to be extending this opportunity to young swimmers everywhere. We’re grateful to Philip Weinstein, the Harold A. Winstead Charitable Trust and our other sponsors for covering 50 percent of the fundraising for our scholarship recipients.”
The application period for the Swim The Bay Scholarship ends Friday, July 19. Applicants must meet certain qualifications in order to participate in the Swim and will be asked to submit a short response to the prompt, “Why I want to be a part of the Swim.” If accepted, scholarship recipients will be required to register for the event and fundraise $200.
“We should encourage all Rhode Island youth to take advantage of the opportunity to swim in the Ocean State and all the amazing bodies of water it offers,” said Roger Williams University Swim and Dive Coach Matt Emmert. “We’re so excited that Save The Bay is able to provide this scholarship for younger swimmers so they can participate in such a historic swim! The scholarship not only motivates young competitive swimmers, but inspires them to be future ambassadors for protecting our public waters.”
Application forms and details are available at savebay.org/swim-scholarship. Interested applicants, sponsors and donors should contact Leanne Danielsen at [email protected] or (401)-272-3540 x140.
The Save The Bay Swim celebrates tremendous progress in cleaning up Narragansett Bay since its first official Swim in 1977 and the organization’s founding in 1970. The Swim is Save The Bay’s largest annual fundraiser, and 100 percent of every dollar raised provides critical support to the organization’s mission to protect and improve Narragansett Bay and its watershed. Those interested in learning more about registering for the Swim, creating a team, or making a donation to the event are encouraged to visit swim.savebay.org/2019.
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About Save The Bay: Founded in 1970, Save The Bay is currently celebrating 50 years of advocacy, education, and restoration efforts in its mission to protect and improve Narragansett Bay and its watershed. An 18-month celebration marks the anniversary with special events and a capital campaign to unite the community and lay the foundation for Save The Bay’s continued work toward a fully swimmable, fishable, healthy Narragansett Bay, accessible to everyone and globally recognized as an environmental treasure.