by Lisa DiGiorgio | May 23, 2018 | News
Talk about May flowers! Our community has stepped up and shown its commitment to the Swim Center with a whopping $63,000 donated so far during our May Spring Giving, including GiveBIG and GiveLocal. Every donation has felt like a colorful blossom, bringing its own measure of vitality, energy and growth to the pool project. Together we are all tending this incredible, life-changing project much like we would our own gardens – with care, vision, dedication and hard work.
And, just like a garden cannot be left to tend itself, we must continue fundraising! With $2.7 million raised so far, we are in the crux of the campaign. $1.5 million more is needed in order to begin construction this coming September… and to stay on track to be swimming in warm water during the winter of 2019! The permits for the project will be submitted this summer. The FLIP Board is busy seeking funds from foundations, potential major donors (public and private) and businesses. Individual donations really do add up! Please let your friends know that you gave and why. Sharing your enthusiasm encourages others to help bring water safety, health and recreation to Lopez with a community swim center. Your on-going support is making ALL the difference and we couldn’t be more grateful! Thank YOU!
P.S. Please join in the fun! We are looking for summer volunteers to help with FLIP’s booth at the Farmer’s Market as well as volunteers for the 4th of July parade. If you are interested, please contact Lori Taylor, our FLIP Volunteer Coordinator, at wavelady@gmail.com.
Edited by Carolyn McGown
by Lisa DiGiorgio | May 9, 2018 | News
Thank you for your past support! Your generosity can make the difference in reaching our Spring Giving goal of $35,000, matched by special Swim Center supporters! Whether you are a full-time or a part-time islander, join your community in supporting this important capital campaign which will transform San Juan County!
FLIP’s Spring Giving Campaign is in full swing with donations coming in daily. TODAY is GiveBIG day, May 9th and GiveLocal is through May 12th, so if you miss GiveBIG, there is still time!
We are asking for your gift today to support the Capital Campaign for starting construction of the Lopez Swim Center in the fall of 2018. $1.5 million is still needed to begin building. Please note: we must continue fundraising. The State awards we received this year are only for a fraction of the total construction cost.
Lopez elementary students love being in the warm water during FLIP-sponsored annual SWIM DAYS; this year on May 8th and 10th. Let’s make this our LAST year of pulling kids out of school for an entire day to go swimming in Anacortes. Help us Swim Local in 2019! With your support we can:
- Improve Water Safety with LOCAL SWIM LESSONS for your kids and grandchildren.
- Improve Health through LOCAL AQUA THERAPY with a LOCAL PHYSICAL THERAPIST
- Improve Fitness with a LOCAL YEAR-ROUND SWIM CENTER for Recreation
SWIM LOPEZ! SWIM LOCAL! Donate TODAY at www.givebigseattle.org OR www.lopezislandpool.org OR mail a check to: FLIP * P.O. Box 453 * Lopez Island WA 98261
We are grateful for your support! It is your generosity that has brought us this far!
The FLIP Board
Carolyn McGown,editor
by Lisa DiGiorgio | May 2, 2018 | News
Summer is coming and San Juan County is still one of only two counties in WA without a public pool. But, things are happening!
2018 has been a stellar year for fundraising, with awards of $675,000 from WA State as well as an AMAZING and BIG-HEARTED $300,000 anonymous gift that knocked our socks off! These massive windfalls, along with your continued support, have brought the total raised to an incredible $2,700,000!
Our Spring Giving Campaign has begun and this year it encompasses TWO giving events – GiveBIG on May 9 and Lopez’s GiveLocal from May 1-12. We ask for your gift during this critical time period. Our current goal is to raise $1,500,000 by September. With your support, construction of the swim center is planned to start this Fall. Remember, our community is doing this debt-free!
FLIP is very grateful to those who have provided a total of $35,000 in matching funds towards the Spring Giving Campaign, including Jim and Birte Falconer’s gift of $25,000 for GiveBIG and $10,000 for GiveLocal from donors including Jane Fuller and Bill LeDrew, Randy and Karen Wilburn, Christine Kerlin, Robin and Mike Bergstrom, Micki Ryan and Bill Clemens, Holly and Stephen Bienawski, Tom and Lisa DiGiorgio, Linda Barton and other special donors. Will you please consider digging deep with a donation for our Spring Giving Campaign?
We’re well beyond the tipping point on this project…let’s get it into the home stretch next! Together we have…together we can…together we will. Swim Local!
You can find more information at www.lopezislandpool.org and donations can be made at our website as well as www.lopezrocks.org and GiveBigSeattle.org. We also receive checks by mail at FLIP P.O. Box 453, Lopez Island, WA 98261.
We are incredibly grateful for your continued support of the Lopez Swim Center!
by annp | Apr 22, 2018 | News
Friends of Lopez Island Pool kicks off its Spring Giving event with GiveBIG Seattle & GiveLocal!
Your gift will help raise $1.5 million to begin construction of the swim center this fall!
FLIP’s Spring Giving combines two events. This is the last year for Seattle Foundation’s GiveBIG and the first year for Lopez’s GiveLocal. GiveLocal is a collaborative event benefiting Lopez non-profits. This year give by any method you choose by – cash, check, PayPal, Stock transfer or thru this website, GiveBIGSeattle.org or LopezRocks.com! Thank you for your generosity. Your support is what makes the difference!
by Lisa DiGiorgio | Mar 11, 2018 | News
The State final capital budget, passed on March 8th, includes HALF A MILLION DOLLARS for the SJC Community Swim Center on Lopez Island. We are forever thankful for the steadfast support provided by Senator Kevin Ranker and House Representatives Kristine Lytton and Jeff Morris. This could not have moved forward and passed without them. Although Governor Inslee still needs to sign it, the final budget passed unanimously in the Senate and passed the House 96-2.
A BIG thank you also goes to County Councilmen Jamie Stephens, Rick Hughes and Bill Watson. Their willingness to pursue County investment was key to showing our State representatives that the County is fully behind the project.
We also owe appreciation to our partnership organizations, advisory group members and volunteers for calling and writing to our representatives. Our partnership organizations at this time include Lopez Island Family Resource Center, Lopez Island School District, Lopez Island Academy, Lopez Island Fire and EMS, Lopez Island Physical Therapy, Lopez Island Prevention Coalition and Lopez Community Trails network.
And finally, we thank our individual donors. Whether you have donated $5,000 or $5 to the project, your support has made an impact. Today, we celebrate this wonderful news with YOU because together, we are making sure that the San Juan Islands will swim!
Swimmingly Yours,
The FLIP Board
editing by Carolyn McGown
by Lisa DiGiorgio | Feb 28, 2018 | News
A HUGE thanks to all of our wonderful Supporters! We are thrilled to report that $93,000 was raised during FLIP’s 2017 year end annual appeal! Your commitment to bringing a public SWIM CENTER to San Juan County is making a real difference. FLIP is SO grateful to each of you who have given! This will be an important year for the pool with a lot of movement to seek State and County government support. Critical fundraising needs to happen this year in order for construction to happen next year. With your help we can build a local indoor swim center with two pools. Kids will learn to swim, adults will be able to rehab with aqua therapy and the warm water with bring us all together for fitness and fun. Donations can be made via the FLIP website by clicking on the Donate button below.
Thank you! Thank you!
(editing by Carolyn McGown, Communications Team)
Talk about May flowers! Our community has stepped up and shown its commitment to the Swim Center with a whopping $63,000 donated so far during our May Spring Giving, including GiveBIG and GiveLocal. Every donation has felt like a colorful blossom, bringing its own measure of vitality, energy and growth to the pool project. Together we are all tending this incredible, life-changing project much like we would our own gardens – with care, vision, dedication and hard work.
