Swimathon is a crowdfunding campaign in which participants swim and fundraise for a cause that they find important and the beneficiaries of which include the community of Ferencváros. During Swimathon 2017, held on 18 June, as many as 140 swimmers jumped into the pool to complete the laps they offered to do for the cause they committed themselves to. At this event the swimmers supporting the association From Streets to Homes raised the most funds, over 4 million forints, which helped the association to set up mobile houses for the homeless.
Swimmers at Swimathon have included individuals, adults and children, in some cases entire families or even a class of 16 pupils, with individual commitments. In 2017 the amount raised – 16, 307,441 forints – was more than double the amount a year before.
Swimmers received prizes in three categories:
The youngest swimmers, the donors of the future:
Lea Benedek and Martin Frank, 6 years old
The swimmer who came travelled the most to take part in Swimathon:
Wendy Richardson, Global Fund for Community Foundations. She is Canadian but now lives and works in Brussels.
The swimmer who raised the most funds:
Attila Bodrogi dr., who raised 1,220,381 forints for the Mobile House program of the association From Streets to Homes.
Beneficiaries of Swimathon 2017
Hospital School (KórházSuli) – helping students in long-term hospitalization to continue with their studies
KépMás – an integrated theatre performance of actors, actresses with and without disabilities
Film School – an educational kit for high school students to raise awareness about refugees, using documentary films as tools
Golden Gate/Aranykapu – a grassroot initiative to organize a local Christmas fair at one of the largest housing estate
Housing Now! – a programme addressing the housing problems of homeless people
KözösALAPON – Community Foundation Support Programme to promote local philanthropy, inspire a national community foundation movement and to provide development support to community foundations across Hungary
FIX Point – To organize community programmes to involve more and people in actions for the district.