| January 07, 2011 Dear Friend, I’m writing to you on behalf of the Monterey County Aquatic Team/Salinas Valley Aquatics (MCAT/SVA), an amazing and respected organization that provides year-round programming for kids and adults. Our focus is on swim lessons, water safety, and competitive swimming for kids. However, we have also concentrated efforts on providing programming for adult health and fitness. Our programming saves lives. We’ve been successfully serving the community for more than 25 years, but to continue as a viable non-profit organization, we find ourselves needing your help. In June 2010, MCAT/SVA stepped up to manage and run the Salinas Aquatic Center to keep it from closing to the public. We have kept all City programming, added more lap swim and recreation swim hours. We have added more youth programming during the danger hours to keep our kids busy and off of the streets. Despite our ongoing efforts to belt-tighten and fund raise, we still need significant dollars to cover increased operational costs for our sponsorship costs for high-risk, low-income youth and operational costs to keep the pool open for the general public recreational swimming hours.. Our organization annually supports the following: 1800+ kids from the community in swim lessons; 120 kids on our USA Swimming™ competition team, 30 to 40 college and high school students in summer swim (lifeguard & instructors) jobs, and four professionally certified swim coaches. The second leading cause of accidental death in children 14 and under is drowning. No child should drown because they don't have access or the financial means to learn to swim. Learning to swim should not be a privilege , it should be a right. We can also help save lives by providing opportunity to play in organized sport activity. This keeps kids engaged in positive activity. Currently we have numerous kids participating on the team and lessons who are sponsored by generous donors. We would like to offer more kids this opportunity and have many waiting to hear if they have a sponsor.. What your dollars can mean to us: Ø Sponsorship of one high-risk, low-income child for eight swim lessons, $89. Ø Sponsorship of a high-risk, low-income child for our swim team for a year, $1,500. Ø Purchase of suits for the kids in the high-risk, low-income swim program, $5,000 for 2010. Ø Leased water time for 120 kids on our swim team, $7,000. Ø Leased water time for our Swim America™ water safety program, $10,000 for 2010. Ø Purchase of team caps, $800. ØSponsorship of area elementary school swim safety lessons $5,000 per school. ØFree swim Lessons Camp for Spring Break or Summer "at risk" kids 20,000 ØGeneral operations donation to help cover utility and maintenance expenses. (Our utility bill is $7,500 per month). The suggested amounts may seem beyond reach, but I’m confident we can reach our goal of continuing to serve the community. Whether you make a $20 or $200 contribution, every dollar will mean a great deal to our organization, to our dedicated swimmers and coaches, and more importantly, to the under-served and at-risk youth of Salinas .
Please make your check payable to MCAT/SVA. Your donation in any amount is 100% tax-deductible. Our 501(c)3 tax ID is 942451852. Checks can be mailed or delivered to 1 East Bernal Dr.,Salinas Ca. 93906. Our organization mission statement and programming information can be found at www.mcatsva.org If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact me at your convenience. Thank you in advance for your consideration and generosity. Very sincerely, Dia C. Rianda Head Coach and Team Manager Salinas Valley Aquatics Inc. 831-758-7301 831-747-7857 [email protected] www.teamunity.com.home.jsp?team=sva. |
