Donation Portal
Please donate to our teams: https://app.schoolfundr.org/fund/palyswimteam
A message from our Coach...
I feel it is important to try and be as transparent as possible. The Paly Swim and Dive families have always been supportive with all of their resources, including time and financial support. It is important for us to be as clear as possible in our goals.
What does your donation cover?
GOAL: Our donation request is $395 per returning athlete and $495 per first time athlete. Our initial fundraising goal for the program this season is between $35-40K. We feel this will cover all of the costs for the team - gear, equipment, social functions, banquet, misc expenses and replacement items. The Paly Athletic Department's new way of funding team sports is for the team to pay for the majority of their own items. When athletes attend CIF States, the school covers that cost. All other items must be covered by the team account.
GEAR: Your donation covers outfitting each athlete. Each athlete will receive a team logo/personalized swimsuit ($45-75), and a top (long-sleeve athletic shirt chosen by the boys team and hoodie chosen by the girls team). First time athletes will receive a track suit. This year we will begin the process of getting jerseys. Each year we'll change the jerseys, so by senior year they will have jerseys from 4 years. We will cover the cost of jerseys for seniors, other ages will pay for half of the cost.
SENIOR GIFTS: Your donation helps cover senior gifts. We want to take care of our seniors who have put 4 years into the program. We want them to feel appreciated for their efforts and give them something to remember their high school swim team experience by. For this reason, we have come up with 4 gifts, plus a jersey this year, representing each year they have contributed their time and efforts to the program.
TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT: Your donation covers crucial (and expensive) technical equipment required to run quality meets. For example, this past November, we needed a new computer to run the meets. We also needed to fix our starter as years have finally taken its toll. Even though the computer and starter are essential to run our meets and to be able to enter our athletes in bigger championship meets, the school's athletic department does not pay for this. It must come out of our own budget. Luckily, this type of equipment does not have to be paid for each year but we must budget for these misc expenses in case unexpected issues arise.
TRAINING EQUIPMENT: Your donation covers outdated, worn-down training equipment. Equipment gets used daily, leading to wear and tear. We also had to buy new lane lines and backstroke flags. Again, essential items, but costly.
SOCIAL: Your donation covers social events. We try to make the team a fun experience in and out of the pool as these athletes spend a lot of time together. These social events encourage team bonding and camaraderie. We want them to remember their 4 years in a positive light as they move towards the next stages in their lives. We buy pizza for the athletes on home meet days and hold Saturday BBQs once or twice throughout the season. These expenses add up but are extremely important to the spirit of the program. Sometimes the captains hold social functions like taking the team out for dinner after an away meet or meeting for lunch during the week. This is one of the most wonderful parts of the program as the captains and seniors show leadership, strengthening the bond of the team. We have budgeted $40 per person for social expenses. Your donation also covers the athlete's portion of the end-of-season banquet (approximately $30 per person).
GENERAL ATHLETIC DONATION: $100 of your donation goes to Paly's Athletic Department. This amount is the department's operational cost per student and covers general expenses like coaches stipends, transportation costs, officials fees and in-season tournament costs. We are expecting between 80-90 on our roster, so the athletic department is expecting us to pay around $8,000-9,000.
An important aspect of the program and of being a part of a public school is that all athletes, regardless of situation, are a part of the program. We realize this donation is a large ask. For those athletes gratduating as well as returning in future years, it is a foundation of a program for them to enjoy. We ask parents to donate what you can and however much you are comfortable with. If you are in a position to offer more to support the program, anything extra you can contribute is appreciated. The program is for all athletes wiling to be part of the team, if there is a situation where the donation might be a hinderance, please contact Coach Dye. No athlete will be denied for special circumstances.
Being a part of a team is an important aspect of an athlete's life. It is part of the educational system and is beneficial for student/athletes to learn how to continue to push themselves and set goals to improve themselves... not just as students, not just as athletes, but as young people as they grow into young men and women. Here is the link to donate: https://app.schoolfundr.org/fund/palyswimteam
