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NEW ORLEANS (April 15, 2021) – The Brooke Erin Posey Foundation has announced that Love Swimming, Inc. is the title sponsor of the 2021 Brooke E. Posey Swim-a-Thon. The event will be held later this year on Saturday, June 12, on what would have been Brooke’s 22^nd birthday.

          Love Swimming, a year-round, indoor swimming school, has had a passion for teaching swimmers age six months to adult since 2002.  Providing safe, small classes in heated, saltwater pools they strive to provide swimmers with a strong foundation for a lifetime of love and respect for the water by encouraging individuals to explore beyond their fears and expectations. Many swimmers in our community began their love of the water in a Love Swimming class.  Marshall Love, co-founder and owner of Love Swimming, expressed, “the Brooke E. Posey Swim-a-Thon and Love Swimming are a great match because we both want all people to be their best and to respect the water.” He continued, “This event is for a wonderful cause and in loving memory of a very special human being.”  The Brooke E. Posey Swim-a-Thon is more than swimming laps, it’s about providing a fun opportunity to set personal goals, push limits, and enjoy all aspects of swimming while raising money for local children’s charities!

The Foundation, formed in memory of Brooke Posey who was 17 when she lost her life in a tragic automobile accident, selects a different local children’s charity as beneficiary of its annual swim-a-thon. Angels’ Place, which is this year’s recipient, provides ongoing support services for children with life threatening illnesses and their families in Louisiana and Mississippi.

“In our first four years we’ve raised nearly $60,000 to aid local children’s charities,” said Ernest Posey, director at the Foundation and Brooke’s father. “We hope our combining an in-person event with the “Swim Anywhere” format will be just the ticket for surpassing last year’s numbers.”

After successfully pivoting to a “Swim Anywhere” format in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be returning to an in-person event, held on June 12^th where any participant can safely enjoy the excitement of logging in laps with fellow swimmers. The virtual “Swim Anywhere” portion will remain a part of the event and will be held from June 5^th until June 20^th, so anyone, anywhere, can participate in the fundraiser. The entry fee to swim is $35 for a single swimmer, $150 for a family registration, up to 4 swimmers and $200 for a team registration, up to six swimmers. Registered swimmers will receive a reusable bag along with a 2021 Swim-a-Thon t-shirt the day of the event. COVID-19 pool rules will be followed per the Office of the Fire Marshal, Office of the Governor and the Louisiana Department of Health as outlined in the notifications through “Open Safely”. Those guidelines can be viewed at https://opensafely.la.gov/.

“This event is not just for the swimmers,” says Posey. “There is something for everyone. PJ’s Coffee will be providing coffee in the morning and Raising Canes will provided tea and lemonade for the afternoon.  While sipping delicious, donated beverages, food can be purchased ($10 arm band) for lunch.  Participants can also enjoy playing many fair style games ($20 arm band) and win tickets to gain a prize.  The parade of prizes is back with some great gifts from Blue Runner, Pelican Pointe Carwash, 50 Fathoms, Chipotle, Dirty Coast, Houmas House and more. Tickets for the parade of prizes is $5 each or $20 for five.”

Additionally, the Brooke E. Posey Swim-a-Thon would like to announce that Crystal Hot Sauce, Haunted History Tours, Crew Swimming, Café Du Monde, JoJo’s Salon, and Classic Cupboards have also joined as sponsors this year. It’s not too late to become a sponsor, donate to the parade of prizes, or donate food for this one-of-a-kind event!

For more information, please visit https://www.swimforbrooke.com or email info@swimforbrooke.com.

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About Brooke E. Posey Foundation:

The Brooke E. Posey Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in April 2019 to honor the memory of Brooke Posey, a student and athlete who was killed in an accident at the age of 17. Its mission is to promote charitable and educational events for local children’s charities and spread awareness for those charities in memory of Brooke. The foundation, partnering with the Southern Yacht Club and its SYC Seagulls swim team, has raised over $60,000 the past four years for children’s charities in Brooke’s memory.

 

About Angels’ Place, Inc.:

Angels’ Place is a 501(c)(3) non-profit children’s charity serving seriously and terminally ill children and their families in times of crisis, overwhelming difficulty and great sadness. They currently provide respite care to over 70 children in local hospitals. Angels’ Place serves a total of 350 family members, including siblings and also provides the families with referrals from other supportive agencies as needed. They provide these families with yearly events at no cost, such as the Spring Fling, Thanksgiving dinners, a Halloween “Booville” party, the Christmas Party, and other family strengthening activities. In addition, badly needed school supplies, presents at Christmas time, and gift cards for unexpected expenses are part of their support programs. 

Angels’ Place is the only nonprofit of its kind in Louisiana and one of a few in the country. Angels’ Place provides these services to children throughout Louisiana and southern Mississippi through Children’s Hospital and Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans.

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