Nearly 250 swimmers crossed Narragansett Bay in Save The Bay’s annual Swim fundraiser
NEWPORT, R.I. – July 15, 2024 – At 7:05 a.m. on Saturday, July 13, nearly 250 swimmers took to the waves of Narragansett Bay’s East Passage in the 48th Save The Bay Swim, raising both funds and awareness for Save The Bay’s mission to protect and improve Narragansett Bay. The Swim invites swimmers to tackle a two-mile, open water swim from the shore of the Naval War College in Newport to Potter Cove in Jamestown in the nonprofit organization’s flagship fundraiser, supporting ongoing advocacy, habitat restoration, and education efforts.
“The Swim is a celebration of the great success story of the cleanup of Narragansett Bay,” said Save The Bay Executive Director Topher Hamblett. “I would like to thank the swimmers, staff and volunteers who annually come together to make this event possible. But we must remain vigilant as there is still work to do to protect and preserve what we have fought for. Saving the Bay is a community effort that requires participation from all of us.”
“When I first heard about the Save The Bay Swim shortly after moving here to RI in 1994, I knew this was something I wanted to do and completed my first Swim in 1995,” said Alan Hollenbeck, who has done “The Swim” for the last thirty years. “I am so proud to support and promote Save The Bay’s mission in protecting this amazing body of water and our gorgeous beaches here in Rhode Island. Thank you, Save The Bay, for organizing this Swim for 48 years but, more importantly, for ensuring we have a clean Bay where we can swim free and enjoy its lasting beauty.”
At approximately 7:40 a.m., swimmers began arriving in Jamestown, kicking off a two-hour celebration during which Save The Bay Executive Director, Topher Hamblett, presented awards to the long-time swimmers named below:
35-Year Participant:
Rachel Balaban (36th Swim)
30-Year Participant:
Alan Hollenback
25-Year Participants:
Alfred Allen
Thor Johnson
Dave Judelson
David Karoff
Patrick Mahoney
Colleen Simpson
Steve Gaddes
20-Year Participants:
Peter Carson
Jana Hesser
Kelly Kittel
Christian Miles
15-Year Participants:
Dean Jennings
Cristina Mitchell
Stephanie Sarvia
Scott Wakeman
10-Year Participants:
Boris Bally
Patrick Daniels
Kenneth Easley
Cheryl Hatch
Rich Hittinger
Mark McHugh
Laura Stone
James Verinis
Kaan Duru (11th Swim)
5-Year Participants:
Gordon Fletcher
Margaret Haberman
Niall Howlett
Scott Mosenthal
Martha Piemonte
Chris Roemlein
William Van Nostrand
Kaitlin Wilson
Hannah Yoffa
Hamblett also acknowledged the following participating teams of swimmers, who train and fundraise together:
#withkeith
Baywatch Hill
East Side YMCA
Friends of Brown
Island School Kiddos
Mischievous Mermaids & Friends
TEAM NACHO
NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow
Sakonnet Mermaids
SCY/NOSE
Stew Fam
SWIM RI
Team Army
Team Bushwood
Team Honeybadger
Team NAVY Newport
Weekapaug Surf Rescue
West Bay Swimmers
Westwin(d)ers
While the event concluded around 11 a.m., those looking to “exercise their right to a clean and healthy Bay” can still do so by participating in the “Save The Bay Open,” a Swim alternative that offers athletes of all disciplines the opportunity to choose their own physical challenge to complete their way, on their own time. Challenges include kayaking, biking, running, and more.
Those interested in donating to the 2024 Swim or participating in the Open are encouraged to visit savebay.org/swim, or to contact Leanne Danielsen at ldanielsen@savebay.org.
As one of the most storied open-water events in the country, the Swim attracts hundreds of swimmers from across the country, as well as more than 150 local volunteers, to the only event that invites swimmers to cross Narragansett Bay’s East Passage. The event is Save The Bay’s largest annual fundraiser, providing critical support to the organization’s mission to protect and improve Narragansett Bay and its watershed. The Swim is generously sponsored by local businesses, and fundraising efforts are supported by thousands of individuals who donate funds to swimmers.
The 2024 Save The Bay Swim and Open are supported in part by the following event sponsors: AAA, Balise Subaru; BayCoast Bank; Blaeser Insurance; Bradford Soap; Brown Medicine; Carpionato Group; Centreville Savings Bank; Citizen’s Bank; Coastal1 Credit Union; Conanicut Marine; COX Communications; DBVW Architects; Delta Dental; F.L. Putnam Investment Management Company; Fuss & O’Neil; Horsley Witten Group; Kite Architects; Locke Lord; MFAC, LLC; Narragansett Bay Insurance Co.; Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Nucar; PODS Swimming; REXEL Energy Solutions; Rhode Island Energy; Rhode Races & Events; Sunflower Design; and Water Scents.
Additional support for the event is provided by in-kind sponsors: Audrain Hospitality; Belmont Market; Ben & Jerry’s; Del’s Lemonade; ECO Products; Gill; Granny Squibb’s Iced Tea; Kate’s Real Food; Laid-Back Fitness; Open Water; and Sarcastic Sweets Food Truck.