Keep Swimming Foundation is expanding its mission to help families of critically ill patients cover rent and mortgage payments when their loved one is undergoing an extended inpatient medical crisis.
Keep Swimming Foundation Raises Over $13,000 at Inaugural Gala!
The energy was electric, the guests came prepared to give and the night proved to be an incredible night of philanthropy at Keep Swimming Foundation’s Inaugural Gala!
Just under two hundred Chicagoland philanthropists flooded the halls of the Metropolis Ballroom in Arlington Heights, Illinois on August 24, 2018 to celebrate the achievements of Keep Swimming Foundation’s first ten months of helping families in need through its mission to provide financial relief to families of critically ill patients who require extended inpatient medical care at an accredited USA hospital.
Throughout the evening, the foundation shared three videos featuring three of the first eight families the foundation had aided. One of the families, the parents of an infant boy who passed away while battling heart complications, rose to an applause and waved to an emotional room of donors who had just learned of their child’s battle.
Keep Swimming Foundation’s Founder and Board President, Bill Coon, hosted the evening. Coon shared stories that guided the packed house from the inception of the foundation to present day and the many milestones they have accomplished in a brief ten-month window.
In addition to the videos and stories, guests participated in a riveting live auction, which was highlighted by one guest bidding nearly one thousand dollars for a luxury hotel room (courtesy of Swissotel Chicago) and two tickets on the Soldier Field grass to see Ed Sheeran perform at Soldier Field on October 4th. The evening concluded with hours of dancing (courtesy of Spinnin’ Discs).
In total, $13,065 was raised in one evening to help families in need. Keep Swimming Foundation plans to host its 2nd Annual Gala in September 2019 in the Chicagoland area. The evening was made possible by multiple generous sponsors, including, the Alec K. and Viena P. Gianaras Foundation, DMR Plumbing, CTDI, Mike and Lisa DeMarco and the Irwin Family.
2018 Q1 Grant Recipients Announced!
The foundation received a large amount of grant requests from patients and their families throughout the country. After analyzing each of the applications, Keep Swimming Foundation's Board of Directors selected four families who will receive varying levels of funding to help supplement their rising debt as they care for their loved one.
The following are the stories of these families.