(Dec. 27, 2013) Philanthropists are diving headfirst into a fundraiser for Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.
The 20th annual Penguin Swim is slated for New Years Day, next Wednesday, and hundreds will take to the ocean off 91st Street for the event.
New attractions mark the 20th year of the swim, including a 7-foot-tall ice throne crafted by ice carver Eric Cantine, miniature pony, Frankie, dressed in full penguin attire and Sherman from the Shorebirds, all available for photo ops with participants while they wait to take the plunge.
“It’s going to be huge,” said AGH Development Coordinator Laura Stearns.
In 2013, 632 raced into the Atlantic Ocean for the swim, raising more than $80,000 for the hospital.
A range of incentives exists for this year’s penguins and many have a retro theme to celebrate the swim’s 20th anniversary. Swimmers who raise $25 can choose from tube socks, penguin ear buds or a penguin hat. Those topping $50 will earn an Outback bucket hat or texting gloves; and swimmers raising at least $75 will take home a long sleeve T-shirt with the retro Penguin Swim logo or a Penguin Swim Tervis tumbler.
Swimmers earning $150 or more will take home a long sleeve T-shirt or a hat with tassels; those earning at least $250 will win a penguin umbrella or robe; and penguins bringing in more than $500 are able to choose a prize from each level, Stearns said.
Top-earning teams from each category — businesses, community groups and under-18 — also earn a trophy and prize, donated by a local business. There will be prizes for individuals who raised the most money, as well as for the best costumes at the swim.
The costume contest “is going to be much bigger and better” for the anniversary, Stearns said. “We’re going to have really nice prizes for the costume contest this year.”
In the past, participants have come dressed as pageant queens and super heroes. The crazier the costumes, the better, Stearns said.
New this year, those who out of town on New Year’s Day can still participate in a “virtual swim.” They register and raise funds like the other penguins, but take a photo jumping into the water wherever they are to be posted online.
“There’s going to be a live feed there (91st Street), so we’ll see when they post it. They’re going to display that for everyone,” Stearn said.
Share the out-of-town photos on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #OCPenguinSwim.
Registration for the 2014 Penguin Swim starts at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1, at the Princess Royale Hotel on 91st Street. Participants and supporters can visit the ice throne, pony and Shorebird mascot while they wait for the 1 p.m. plunge on the beach there.
Early registration is also available on Tuesday, Dec. 31, from 2-4 p.m. at the hotel.
An award ceremony will follow the swim inside the hotel and it lasts until about 2 p.m.
To sign up for the 2014 Penguin Swim or make a donation, visit www.penguinswim.atlanticgeneral.org. Contact event organizers at 410-641-9858 or penguinswim@atlanticgeneral.org.
The Penguin Swim, an annual anniversary celebration in May and the fall golf classic, held each September, are Atlantic General Hospital’s three main fundraisers. Since its inception, the Penguin Swim has raised more than $800,000 for AGH.
Atlantic General Hospital has been providing health care to residents of Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties in Maryland and Sussex County, Del., since May 1993.
The 20th annual Penguin Swim is slated for New Years Day, next Wednesday, and hundreds will take to the ocean off 91st Street for the event.
New attractions mark the 20th year of the swim, including a 7-foot-tall ice throne crafted by ice carver Eric Cantine, miniature pony, Frankie, dressed in full penguin attire and Sherman from the Shorebirds, all available for photo ops with participants while they wait to take the plunge.
“It’s going to be huge,” said AGH Development Coordinator Laura Stearns.
In 2013, 632 raced into the Atlantic Ocean for the swim, raising more than $80,000 for the hospital.
A range of incentives exists for this year’s penguins and many have a retro theme to celebrate the swim’s 20th anniversary. Swimmers who raise $25 can choose from tube socks, penguin ear buds or a penguin hat. Those topping $50 will earn an Outback bucket hat or texting gloves; and swimmers raising at least $75 will take home a long sleeve T-shirt with the retro Penguin Swim logo or a Penguin Swim Tervis tumbler.
Swimmers earning $150 or more will take home a long sleeve T-shirt or a hat with tassels; those earning at least $250 will win a penguin umbrella or robe; and penguins bringing in more than $500 are able to choose a prize from each level, Stearns said.
Top-earning teams from each category — businesses, community groups and under-18 — also earn a trophy and prize, donated by a local business. There will be prizes for individuals who raised the most money, as well as for the best costumes at the swim.
The costume contest “is going to be much bigger and better” for the anniversary, Stearns said. “We’re going to have really nice prizes for the costume contest this year.”
In the past, participants have come dressed as pageant queens and super heroes. The crazier the costumes, the better, Stearns said.
New this year, those who out of town on New Year’s Day can still participate in a “virtual swim.” They register and raise funds like the other penguins, but take a photo jumping into the water wherever they are to be posted online.
“There’s going to be a live feed there (91st Street), so we’ll see when they post it. They’re going to display that for everyone,” Stearn said.
Share the out-of-town photos on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #OCPenguinSwim.
Registration for the 2014 Penguin Swim starts at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1, at the Princess Royale Hotel on 91st Street. Participants and supporters can visit the ice throne, pony and Shorebird mascot while they wait for the 1 p.m. plunge on the beach there.
Early registration is also available on Tuesday, Dec. 31, from 2-4 p.m. at the hotel.
An award ceremony will follow the swim inside the hotel and it lasts until about 2 p.m.
To sign up for the 2014 Penguin Swim or make a donation, visit www.penguinswim.atlanticgeneral.org. Contact event organizers at 410-641-9858 or penguinswim@atlanticgeneral.org.
The Penguin Swim, an annual anniversary celebration in May and the fall golf classic, held each September, are Atlantic General Hospital’s three main fundraisers. Since its inception, the Penguin Swim has raised more than $800,000 for AGH.
Atlantic General Hospital has been providing health care to residents of Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties in Maryland and Sussex County, Del., since May 1993.