Funding the Liquid Lightning Swim Dream
Donation protected
Last year, Jonathan (aka Liquid Lightning), ended his swimming season as one of the most decorated 10-year-olds ever on his team.
During the course of the year-long short course and long course seasons, he broke 5-meet-wide records; won a plethora of medals; qualified for regional, state, and the 15-state zone level championships; and ended the year as the most decorated African American swimmer in his age bracket in our Illinois state and central zone areas. He even qualified for the Junior Olympics for the second year in a row.
(Summer 2019 Central Zone "Medal-vest")
(Scores from last year's summer state & zone competitions. )
Recently, on his birthday he aged up, and his competition ranges on average 7 - 12 inches taller than him, but he's still keeping pace with the big guys and consistently placing. On top of that, Jonathan is holding onto his dream of making it to the 2024 Olympics at age 16, and we are cheering him on.
(He has some tall competition.)
The greatest challenge, however, is the ability to be able to show up! This year, the swim team fees and fundraising requirements increased by nearly $500:
▣ Club Spring & Summer Fees: $700
▣ Club Fundraising Requirement: $500
▣ Gear (Swimsuits, caps, goggles, training equipment): $500
On top of that, the locations for the major competitions are farther and farther away, making it a necessity to not only pay for transportation to the events, but also lodging, entrance fees, food, and for the long-distance trips, airfare and rental car, to get to the 14 days of competitions over the next 6 months.
▣ Feb 28-Mar 01 Regional Championships (local): Admission & Entrance Fees $100
▣ Mar 12 - Mar 15 State Championships at Elkhart, IN: Hotel $600 + Gas (est.) $150 + Meals $300 + Admission & Entrance Fees $100 = $1,150 (Jonathan & Mom)
▣ May 23 - May 24 National Black Heritage Championship at Cary, NC: Hotel $400 + Flights $750 + Rental Car $450 + Meals $200 + Coach Stipend & team gear $200 + Admission & Entrance Fees $100 = $2,100 (Jonathan & Mom)
▣ Aug 04 - Aug 08 Central Zone Championships at Jenks, OK: Hotel $750 + Flights $1,250 + Rental Car $700 + Meals $400 + Admission & Entrance Fees $100 = $3,200 (Jonathan, Jeslyn, & Mom)
Altogether that's a grand total of $8,250 for the next 6 months. ($8,500 total including GoFundMe's 2.9% and $0.30 per transaction fees.)
So that's where you can come in and help. It's taken a lot over the years to fund this dream, and things are getting really tight for us. It's with much humility and heart that we, Jonathan's parents, are asking you to help fund the opportunity for Jonathan to continue competing, and gaining the eyes of professional coaches, Olympic scouts, and sponsors for his future.
He's already caught the eyes of nearly every USA Swimming official and coach in the state and Central Zone, and we want to ensure that he continues to make it closer and closer to that dream of the 2024 Olympics.
During the course of the year-long short course and long course seasons, he broke 5-meet-wide records; won a plethora of medals; qualified for regional, state, and the 15-state zone level championships; and ended the year as the most decorated African American swimmer in his age bracket in our Illinois state and central zone areas. He even qualified for the Junior Olympics for the second year in a row.
(Summer 2019 Central Zone "Medal-vest")(Scores from last year's summer state & zone competitions. )Recently, on his birthday he aged up, and his competition ranges on average 7 - 12 inches taller than him, but he's still keeping pace with the big guys and consistently placing. On top of that, Jonathan is holding onto his dream of making it to the 2024 Olympics at age 16, and we are cheering him on.
(He has some tall competition.)The greatest challenge, however, is the ability to be able to show up! This year, the swim team fees and fundraising requirements increased by nearly $500:
▣ Club Spring & Summer Fees: $700
▣ Club Fundraising Requirement: $500
▣ Gear (Swimsuits, caps, goggles, training equipment): $500
On top of that, the locations for the major competitions are farther and farther away, making it a necessity to not only pay for transportation to the events, but also lodging, entrance fees, food, and for the long-distance trips, airfare and rental car, to get to the 14 days of competitions over the next 6 months.
▣ Feb 28-Mar 01 Regional Championships (local): Admission & Entrance Fees $100
▣ Mar 12 - Mar 15 State Championships at Elkhart, IN: Hotel $600 + Gas (est.) $150 + Meals $300 + Admission & Entrance Fees $100 = $1,150 (Jonathan & Mom)
▣ May 23 - May 24 National Black Heritage Championship at Cary, NC: Hotel $400 + Flights $750 + Rental Car $450 + Meals $200 + Coach Stipend & team gear $200 + Admission & Entrance Fees $100 = $2,100 (Jonathan & Mom)
▣ Aug 04 - Aug 08 Central Zone Championships at Jenks, OK: Hotel $750 + Flights $1,250 + Rental Car $700 + Meals $400 + Admission & Entrance Fees $100 = $3,200 (Jonathan, Jeslyn, & Mom)
Altogether that's a grand total of $8,250 for the next 6 months. ($8,500 total including GoFundMe's 2.9% and $0.30 per transaction fees.)
So that's where you can come in and help. It's taken a lot over the years to fund this dream, and things are getting really tight for us. It's with much humility and heart that we, Jonathan's parents, are asking you to help fund the opportunity for Jonathan to continue competing, and gaining the eyes of professional coaches, Olympic scouts, and sponsors for his future.
He's already caught the eyes of nearly every USA Swimming official and coach in the state and Central Zone, and we want to ensure that he continues to make it closer and closer to that dream of the 2024 Olympics.
Organizer
Anne And Saeed Richardson
Organizer
Homewood, IL