Call for Donations: Navy SEALS Charitable Swim 1/17

On January 17, local and professional athletes will compete in the seventh annual Tampa Bay Frogman 5k Open Water Swim, a charitable fundraiser benefiting the Navy SEAL Foundation.

What started out as a benefit race for one injured servicemember has evolved into a major annual event that has raised a total of over one million dollars for the Foundation. Past participants include Olympian Brooke Bennett and long-distance swimmer Craig Lenning.

This year, the competitors have been training for weeks for the 3.1 mile swim, and their fundraising efforts have been just as vigorous. The overall goal is to raise $500k for the Foundation. Eric Smith of OSG committed to this event last year while training for the Texas Ironman race, and feels called to help in any way possible. He has set a goal to raise $50k and to date he has raised $35,500 through the support of both personal and professional friends in the maritime industry. 

But more donations are still needed for the support of our nation's elite warriors, and the fundraiser's organizers would welcome all additional contributions. Suggested donation levels are from $1,000 to $5,000 for businesses and from $50 to $500 for individuals.

100% of the proceeds raised by the swim are donated to the Navy SEAL Foundation, and more than 95 cents of every dollar the Foundation raises serves their mission.

Checks may be made payable to the Navy SEAL Foundation and sent to:

Holly Kirkland C/O OSG, 

302 Knights Run Ave. Suite 1200

Tampa, FL. 33602

Questions may be directed to Eric Smith at [email protected] / 713-705-9908, or to Holly Kirkland at [email protected] / 813-541-1142.

About the Navy SEAL Foundation

The Navy SEAL Foundation plays an increasingly important role in supporting Naval Special Warfare personnel and their families.  With the losses the Naval Special Warfare community has incurred since 9/11, and especially considering the loss of 22 operators on August 6, 2011, the Foundation needs the support of fundraisers like the Tampa Bay Frogman Swim more than ever.

Their mission was not created by war, but it has been made more important and more difficult as a result of it.

The Foundation's focus is on active duty Naval Special Warfare forces and their families. Naval Special Warfare is comprised of the U.S. Navy SEALs, Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) and support personnel.

The Navy SEAL Foundation serves a fundamental role within the SEAL and SWCC community. They provide tragedy assistance for families who have lost a loved one in training or combat. They support family events to uphold morale and camaraderie. They award scholarships and provide educational assistance to active duty personnel, their spouses, and children.

Additionally, to ensure the contributions of these elite warriors are always remembered, recognized, and documented for future generations, they strive to preserve the rich history and heritage of the NSW community. Since its inception in 2000, the Navy SEAL Foundation has mourned the loss of many of our NSW warriors in the Global War on Terror, and in turn, we support their families and their teammates.

Their programs center around three pillars:

• Health and Welfare, including tragedy assistance and family events

• Education and Motivation, including scholarships and tuition assistance

• History and Heritage, including the funding of monuments and memorials

The Navy SEAL Foundation has earned the coveted four-star rating from Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.  The Foundation has also been certified by Charities of America as a “Best in America” charity

The Foundation is a 501(c)3 tax exempt, national, non-profit charitable foundation. (Tax ID # 31-1728910)