UPDATE: Angela Swift reports that over $3,500 was raised for Kids in Crisis on New Year’s Day!
New Year’s Day was gray but mild, and hundreds turned out for a local tradition of plunging into Long Island Sound to mark the new year.
For the third year in a row, local mom, athlete and realtor Angela Swift, worked with Chillybear to organize t-shirts to commemorate the frosty plunge, with donations going to Kids in Crisis.
And not a minute too soon, as the local non-profit recently lost its state funding and the cut puts the future of the organization in jeopardy. In November, the agency announced that the state had cut $750,000 in funding, and that the cut would go into effect in just 10 days.
On New Year’s Day, right at noon, State Rep Fred Camillo led a countdown to the plunge. Brave swimmers of all ages, and even some dogs, dashed through the sand and into Long Island Sound, if only for a moment. A nice touch was provided by Greenwich Town Party, who was generous with hot cocoa and munchkins.
Thank you to everyone who supported Kids in Crisis. For more information on Kids in Crisis and to donate, visit www.kidsincrisis.org.
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Tina and Joe with their rescue dogs Bailey and Beau! Jan 1, 2015 Crdit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Plunging into Long Island Sound to raise awareness and funds for Kids in Crisis, Jan. 1, 2016 Credit: Leslie Yager
Kids in Crisis is Connecticut’s only free, round-the-clock agency providing emergency shelter, crisis counseling and community educational programs for children of all ages and families dealing with a wide range of crises – domestic violence, mental health and family problems, substance abuse, economic difficulties and more. Since its founding in 1978, Kids in Crisis has helped more than 132,000 Connecticut children and families; last year, over 6,184 children and families received assistance from the organization.