North Bay Aquatics Angel Fund 2021

Hello Team NBA Angel Fund Donor

I’m writing this personal note to thank you for your generous support of your Youth Team over the last several years. You have made a material and real financial impact on the mental health of our young people. All Angel Funds are need based supplements for swimmers who require financial assistance for travel and monthly dues.

They work diligently day by day, week by week figuring out how to navigate this often-confusing time in their collective lives…and then along comes the challenge of Covid and the many changes that made to their world and how to navigate same.

It isn’t enough to train 9 – 10 times per week, nearly 11 months a year, but they also chase academic excellence in hopes of getting into a school of their choice upon high school graduation.

Last year we had swimmers gain admittance to Emory, UC Santa Barbara, Pomona, Hawaii, Orange Coast CC, University of Toronto, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. So far this year we know commitments come from USC, Georgetown, Pomona, ASU, UC San Diego, Indiana University, with several more undecided…doing the nervous wait for letters of acceptance …you may remember those days yourself!

And then there is this fun data:

• North Bay placed 6 swimmers on the Scholastic All-American Team, finishing in the top 40 teams in the country for number of swimmers to represent a team.

• North Bay finished as a Bronze Medal Team in the USA Swimming Club Excellence program, marking our program as a top 200 (out of 3,000+) performing team in the country

• We are currently only a few steps away from completing USA Swimming’s Safe Sport Recognition Program, something less than 200 clubs in the country completed so far

• Created our inaugural leadership program, Tuna Excel, that meets on Saturdays after practice to discuss ideas on how to make North Bay a stronger community. 13 swimmers applied to join the program, and all were accepted. (This program is new under Max Byers’ leadership as Head Youth Coach).

• Currently sending 7 swimmers to Austin, Texas for the Winter Junior National Championships in December. This is the fastest 18 & Under Short Course meet in the country and nearly 10% of our team is currently qualified.

We will officially kick off our annual Angel Fund on 11/23 and will stay open for donations until 1/31/22. Last year we had 127 donors and raised just over 22K. Since we are competitive – of course there is that – we will set 140 and 25K as mile posts.

If you are able and willing, we would gratefully accept your contribution – regardless of past donations. Several of you have already committed and I, on behalf of our team, am grateful. Simply bring your check and give it to the coach on deck. Or if it is easier for you, hit the link and use GoFundMe. Either works and we continue to work for you, tirelessly as always…in the rain, sleet, and snow…ok, well in the rain and dark anyway

Don Swartz – coach coordinator Andrea Salmi – swimmer coordinator