What is the Swim-A-Thon

RAC Business Sponsor 2025 letter

SWIM-A-THON NEWS:

Swim-A-Thon 2025

As you know, our annual Swim-A-Thon will be held on Saturday March 22 this year.  Whether you are new to the team or are a RAC veteran, here is everything you need to know! If you have any additional questions, are interested in helping with the Swim-A-Thon, or would like to donate an item for the silent auction, please contact Melinda Prills or Tina Chang-Yip.

What is the Swim-A-Thon?

It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year! Our goal is for our swimmers to have lots of fun while raising lots of money for RAC. This year, the coaching staff will challenge each squad to “go the IM distance” for their team.

Each squad will have a minimum goal time during which they will swim as many Individual Medleys (IMs) as possible.

The money raised will help fund a set of LumaLanes pacing lights for the pool.

The Swim-a-Thon will also include a celebration on Friday March 21 – complete with a pool party, games, giveaways, raffles, and a silent auction! More info coming soon!

Who participates in the Swim-A-Thon?

All swimmers in our competitive and Fitness squads are invited to participate in our Swim-A-Thon. But the Swim-A-Thon fun is not just for swimmers – parents are invited to check out the silent auction items.  Join the fun to bid on items for kids and adults! 

Does my swimmer have to participate?

Technically, no, but every RAC swimmer in our competitive and Fitness squads has a fundraising obligation. You can fulfill this commitment through bringing in business sponsors, asking for donations from friends and family, or making donations of your own. If you have not met your fundraising commitment as of 2 weeks after the Swim-A-Thon, your account will be charged to make up the difference.  Fundraising through the Swim-A-thon will help offset the cost to you!

The fundraising commitments are: 

Development and Fitness Groups: $200 per swimmer

Age Group and Junior Groups: $250 per swimmer

National and Senior Groups: $300 per swimmer 

(Note: The fundraising commitment per family is capped at $450.)

We already paid to join RAC, why are we raising additional money?

Each year, the Swim-A-Thon helps fund a particular need for RAC. In the past this has included new timing pads, lane lines, locker room renovation, and more. This year, we are raising money for a set of LumaLanes pacing lights for the pool to enhance training for all swimmers. 

Additionally, RAC is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, and 12% of our operating budget comes from fundraisers. Having the Swim-A-Thon allows us to reach out to the local business community and others to help support our club so that not all funds come from RAC parents. If we did not fundraise, program fees would be raised far more than your required fundraising commitment, which would make the costs prohibitive for some to swim. 

Finally, some of the money raised will go back to the USA Swimming Foundation to support learn-to-swim programs and to provide financial support to our U.S. National Team athletes and coaches. 

Got it!  Now I’m ready for my swimmer to start fundraising…how do we do it?

Sign up a business sponsor!  Having business sponsors allows us to bring additional funds and awareness to our club from the community. If you or someone you know owns a business, ask them to become a sponsor.  Sponsorships begin at $200, and we offer great exposure to businesses in the community.  We have a letter ready for you to simply email or print to give to potential sponsors. And remember, sponsors that you sign up can help fulfill – or even completely cover – your own family’s fundraising commitment!

Reach out to family and friends!  We’ve made it easy - simply have your swimmer create their fundraising page and share the link with family and friends via email, text, and social media. You can also access the fundraising page by visiting the RAC homepage and clicking “RAC Fundraiser” > “Donate Here”. The sooner you set up and share your fundraising page, the better!  If you have more than one swimmer participating, donations can be made to each individual swimmer, or to your family (the donations will then be divided evenly between your swimmers). 

Request a matching gift from your employer!  Many companies will financially match donations that their employees make to nonprofit organizations.  Check with your HR department to see if this is offered by your company.

What’s next?

Keep an eye out for updates regarding the Swim-A-Thon, as well as our online silent auction.  Watch the lane line at the top of the RAC homepage (as well as the lane line on your swimmer’s fundraising page) get longer as donations come in.