Since being founded in 2017, Swim With A Mission has given almost $11.5 Million to service and support organizations that provide critical services to our Veterans.
Every year, SWAM focuses on important needs in the Veterans community and provides grants to worthy Veteran service and support programs. Each organization submits an application for a grant so we can consider how the money we raise each year can make the most impact in the community. The recipient of the grants provide services and support including mental health services, scholarships for children of a parent who died in service, taking care of homeless Veterans, providing rides and financial assistance to Veterans, providing health care services to Veterans, providing permanent housing for Veterans, K9’s for Veterans, and help with PTSD.
My name is Alyssa Mayorga and I am seeking your financial support of a fundraiser I am participating in. I will be swimming for the Swim With a Mission (SWAM) organization on their 9th annual event held on July 12, 2025 at Newfound Lake in Bristol, New Hampshire. I have registered to swim the 1 kilometer (1093 yards) distance.
The mission of SWAM is to strengthen the Veteran community. Every year they contribute funds raised to select worthy Veteran service and support organizations. Some examples include organizations that give scholarships for children whose parents who died in service, providing rides and financial assistance to Veterans, providing health care services to Veterans, providing transitional and permanent housing for Veterans, K9’s for Veterans, and help with PTSD. The 2024 SWAM event raised over $1.7 million for veterans support organizations throughout New Hampshire. Please visit http://www.swam.org to learn more about the organizations that Swim With A Mission supports.
As part of this event I am raising money for Veterans and will be swimming in memory of a fallen soldier from NH.This year, I am raising funds in honor of Army Sergeant Daniel R. Gionet. Sgt Gionet was killed on June 4, 2006, when the tank in which he was riding hit an explosive device near Taji, Iraq. The 24-year-old had been serving as a medic with the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, out of Fort Hood, Texas. After being wounded, he tended to those around him. When a medical unit arrived, Gionet directed them to treat his lieutenant first. “Don’t deal with me,” he said, moments before dying. “Go help the lieutenant. He’s in greater danger than me.”
Sgt Gionet's ultimate sacrifice highlights the courage and selflessness shown by our nation's veterans and service members. The many veterans services supported by SWAM illustrate our gratitude for their acts.
As a former collegiate athlete, I enjoy competing in physical events like this one, as well as triathlons and charity runs throughout New Hampshire and New England. Most events of this nature raise funds for non-profit organizations and I prefer those events that benefit military service members and their families. My husband is a wounded veteran of the US Marine Corps. My grandmother is a US Navy veteran, as was my grandfather and my step father. They were both laid to rest in the New Hampshire State Veteran’s Cemetery in Boscawen.
There were times in my step father’s life when he relied heavily on Harbor Care of Nashua, a non-profit organization that provides homeless veterans with high quality housing, health care, and mental health/substance abuse treatment. This is one of many NH organizations supported by Swim With A Mission. I feel deeply about fundraising for an organization that supports critical services such as these.
My fundraising goal for this event is $1,000. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.