Agua swimmer alison wright to host swim-a-thon in support of swim instruction for all
Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics (AGUA) swimmer and high school sophomore Ali Wright is turning passion into purpose. On Saturday, May 31, from 2 to 5pm, Ali will host a Swim-a-Thon community fundraiser at the Convent of the Sacred Heart’s pool on the Upper East Side.
The event supports Asphalt Green’s mission to provide free, life-saving swim instruction and water safety programs to New York City children. A dedicated athlete and student at the Nightingale-Bamford School, Ali has been a standout AGUA swimmer for years, embodying leadership inside and out of the pool.
Ali decided to host this year’s Swim-a-Thon after learning about discrepancies in access to swim instruction. Now, Ali is taking matters into her own hands, inviting the community to help her and Asphalt Green make swimming accessible to all.
What convinced you to lead the Swim-A-Thon this year?
I decided to create the swim-a-thon in 2024 after I made a historical documentary about the PDR swim team and Coach Jim Ellis. I was moved to learn about the barriers many kids, especially those in urban areas, encounter in learning to swim, let alone competing in the sport, and felt inspired to try to do something about it. Last year, the swim-a-thon raised $5,000 for Asphalt Green’s water safety programs. This year, we’re hoping to raise ten times that amount to make a difference in the lives of many more kids.
As a swimmer, why is supporting programs like Wave Makers and Waterproofing important to you?
As a swimmer, I know first-hand the benefits that come with learning to swim. There’s obviously the water safety element which is so important — drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in kids aged four and under, and the second leading cause of accidental death in kids ages 14 and under so knowing how to swim can be a critical life saving skill. But the lifelong positive mental and health benefits that come with knowing how to swim are also significant; there’s a lot of research that correlates knowing how to swim with academic success and better overall physical health. Personally, I also want every kid to have the opportunity to experience the joy that I find in swimming.
AGUA aims to create not only great swimmers but also leaders who take part in community service. Can you explain how AGUA has supported or inspired you to run this event?
AGUA and Asphalt Green have been huge supporters since day one when I came to them with the idea for a swim-a-thon. Everyone at AG has been so helpful in getting the word out about the event, assisting with things like renting pool space, and really just happy to do anything they can to make this year’s event as successful as possible. I feel like my experience making the swim-a-thon a reality with AG has brought the definition of teamwork to life. My coach even signed up to swim in the event!
