Dear NBA Swim Community,

It is hard to fully express the gratitude we feel for each and every one of you. Because of your generosity and enthusiasm, this year’s Angel Fund raised an incredible $56,000 from more than 180 donors. What an extraordinary testament to the strength and heart of our North Bay Aquatics community.

When Don and I started the Angel Fund in 2014, we had just 16 donors and raised $3,000. From those humble beginnings to where we are today, the growth of this program reflects something much bigger than numbers — it reflects a community united in its commitment to supporting youth swimming.

From its very inception, this fund was the passion and focus of our Masters and Youth Coach, Don Swartz. Don believed deeply in the power of our community coming together to support young swimmers. In fact, he cared so much that he would begin planning the next year’s fundraiser as soon as the current one wrapped up. His energy, vision, and unwavering belief in this ONE TEAM mission shaped the Angel Fund into what it is today.

The loss of Don earlier this month is deeply felt across our entire swim family. In his honor, we will proudly continue this program and rename it The Don Swartz Angel Fund. It will remain our primary community-wide fundraiser, bringing together both our Masters and Youth programs to support youth swimming — just as Don always envisioned.

Several members of our community have reached out about making additional donations in Don’s memory. We are grateful for that generosity and will keep the GoFundMe link active for those who wish to contribute in his honor.

We hope our community will continue to rally around this cause with the same enthusiasm and spirit that meant so much to Don. Thank you for carrying his legacy forward and for making a lasting difference in the lives of our young swimmers.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Andrea Salmi

NBA Alum Parent, Master Swimmer, Board Member

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