VODA SWIM Charity

Below is a list of some of the charities we support:

Breast Cancer Research Foundation

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder, works to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime by providing critical funding for innovative clinical and genetic research at leading medical centers worldwide, and increasing public awareness about good breast health. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised $195 million to support clinical and genetic research at medical institutions across the globe conducting the most advanced and promising breast cancer research that will help lead to prevention and a cure in our lifetime. On October 16, 2007, new grants of $32 million were awarded to 151 researchers across the United States and in Canada, Europe, Israel, and Latin America.

Save the Children

Save the Children, founded in 1932, is the leading independent organization creating real and lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children's unique self-help approach to relief, recovery and ongoing development has nurtured the seeds of hope for millions of children and their families. Our programs focus on the areas of: economic opportunities; education; emergencies; protection; health; hunger and malnutrition; and U.S. literacy and nutrition. We work in more than 50 countries, including the United States, and serve more than 37 million children and 24 million adults working to save and improve children's lives, including parents, community members, local organizations and government agencies.

Direct Relief International

Since 1948, Direct Relief International has worked to improve the quality of life for people in need. Direct Relief provides medical assistance to improve the quality of life for people victimized by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest at home and throughout the world. Direct Relief is a non-political and non-sectarian organization that provides assistance without regard to race, ethnicity, political or religious affiliation, gender, or ability to pay. Since its inception, Direct Relief has provided appropriate and specifically requested medical resources to community-based institutions and organizations in over 140 countries including the United States.

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, and a group of Marine Corps Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The Toys for Tots Program collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children. The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.