Local Charity Swim Event Brings in $10,000

In the afternoon of Thursday, July 25th, approximately 30 dedicated adult and children swimmers came from all over Westchester County and the Tri-State area, including Scarsdale, to support Swim Across America’s (SAA) two-hour swim fund-raiser at the Scarsdale Golf Club (SGC) in Hartsdale.

According to Bonnie Gould of Scarsdale, a member of the Cancer Support Team’s (CST) board of directors and a past president, and one of the administrators for the charity event, the money raised totaled about $10,000 for SAA with donations still coming in.

Swims were held in communities from Boston Harbor to the Golden Gate Bridge.

SAA is a non-profit national organization dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention, and treatment through swimming-related events. Since its founding in 1987, the organization has raised $100 million in its quest to fighting cancer by supporting cancer research, clinical trials, and patient-care services.

Everyone participating in the SGC swim event received a SAA tee shirt and towel for their swimming efforts and contributions.

Scarsdale’s Joe Zakierski, a member of the Board of Governors at SGC, and one of the swimmers at the event with his son, Joe IV, said, “It was exciting for the two of us to swim together for a good cause in what we called our ‘Father-Son Swim Event for 2024.’”

Gianna Timpone, a Purchase resident who will graduate from Manhattanville University with a dual major of dance and business next year, is in her third year as a summer intern for CST and a volunteer for the swim event at SGC for the third year in a row, said, “Being part of CST and SAA has afforded me the opportunity to meet so many nice people. I have enjoyed being part of such an amazing event.”

Julie Byrne, a kindergarten school teacher and a resident in Manhattan, plus a SGC swim team coach, made the trek to Scarsdale to swim in the event. She said, “Swim Across America is a great organization that brings awareness to an important cause and does so in a fun way. I enjoyed seeing the children get excited to swim and challenge themselves. Annie Browning (former aquatics and fitness director at SGC) connected me to SGC, and I could not be more grateful to be part of such an amazing community.”

Also in attendance was New Rochelle’s Carolyn Sabatina, a fourth-grade teacher in the New Rochelle School System, who has been a fundraiser devotee and a sponsor of the Sabatina Swim team for the SAA events for about 30 years. She said, “I have done all of it in honor of my late father, Bill.”

All in all, the swim charity event at SGC was a big success with a capital S, thanks to the swimmers, contributors and a team effort from the volunteers associated with SAA, CST, and SGC.

(Photo Credit: Gianna Timpone)