Celebrate Swimming – July 19, 7-9p.m.
Madison Girl’s Legacy Continues to Make a Splash in Madison
Special Event to raise funds for swim scholarships
(Madison, WI) The Shelley Glover Sports Education (SGSEF) will host its first Celebrate Swimming, Shelley Glover City Wide Pool Party on July 19 from 7 pm – 9 pm at Goodman Pool, 325 Olin Avenue. Funds raised will benefit its Kids Swimming for Kids program which provides scholarships for swim lessons, swim team memberships, and pool memberships for children in need who attend the Goodman Pool. Admission of $10 includes music provided by Celebrations Entertainment, hot dog, soda, and chips. The event is held in partnership with Madison Parks Goodman Pool. (Please note that all pool admissions that evening will be $10/person for this fundraising event.)
Each summer SGSEF hosts Kids Swimming for Kids events at area pools to raise money for scholarships for swim lessons, swim team memberships, pool passes and pool memberships for children and families in need who attend the Goodman Pool. Kids collect pledges and donations and swim as many lengths as they can during their allotted practice time.
According to Carmella Glover, SGSEF President, “This event has become a tradition within the Madison swim community and truly resonates with the young participants who want to make sure all children can experience the joys of summer swimming, as well as the health and safety benefits it brings.” This summer eight area pools/swim teams and over 500 swimmers will participate in Kids Swimming for Kids. Each year Kids Swimming for Kids raises approximately $12,000 to support swimming in Madison.
Last summer SGSEF began a partnership with the Robert and Irwin Goodman Foundation and Madison Parks Goodman Pool to develop the Goodman Pool Waves, the first swim team at the Goodman Pool. In its first year the team had approximately 60 members.
This year it has 105 members, approximately 40 of the swimmers receive scholarships.
SGSEF was established to honor Shelley Glover, a gifted and compassionate athlete and leader. With the unending support of family, friends, coaches and teachers, Shelley Glover, a Madison, WI native, was able to focus her efforts as early as age three on swimming, soccer and ski racing. She loved summer swimming at Shorewood Pool, and playing soccer, and ski racing. At the age of 15, she was named to the United States Development Ski Team, but died following a ski training accident in May 2004 at age 17. Shelley wished most of all for all kids to be able to have as much fun with sport as she did, and to enjoy the benefits it provided her in the development of friendships, self-esteem and physical fitness.
To help realize Shelley’s dream, The Shelley Glover Sports Education Foundation (SGSEF) was founded. SGSEF is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting athletic activities and competition for youth of all ages and abilities with a focus on Shelley’s favorite sports, skiing, swimming, and soccer. SGSEF will provide support for athletic opportunities and competition through the development of innovative programs and community partnerships that expand access to sports. To date Kids Swimming for Kids has raised more than $150,000 including through the Shelley Glover Pool Fund, originally established through the Madison Foundation for Public Schools.
To learn more visit www.sgsef.org or www.cityofmadison.com/parks/pool.