Kenyon Swimming and Diving Reunion

Dear Kenyon Swimming and Diving Alumni, Friends, and Parents,

Thank you so much for returning to the Hill to celebrate the past, present, and
future of Kenyon Swimming and Diving! With renewed vigor and a deep sense of pride, we are still in awe of the nearly 500 alumni and friends who returned, representing seven decades of the swim and dive family. 

As you recall, we officially announced that the Pursuit of Excellence Endowment Fund will be named in honor of Coach Steen! We cannot think of a better way to honor his legacy than with the James A. Steen Pursuit of Excellence Endowment Fund. The fund will allow the team to continue to compete at the highest level, attract and retain coaching staff, support top-level recruiting, fund the annual winter training trip, and much more. It will be held permanently and managed through the college's endowment. The fund will produce income annually that will directly enhance the budget for swimming and diving each and every year.

Because of the success of the Our Path Forward campaign, the College was excited to explore new budget-enhancing opportunities for athletic teams and affinity groups. Record-breaking as always, our team’s fund is one of the first athletic team endowment funds at the college — and it’s certainly the largest! 

We are proud to report that we have raised $1.7 million so far. Nearly 50 donors have pledged $10k or more over five years. Alumni have also been generous by including the fund in their estate plans and by having their gifts be matched by their employers. All of this propels us towards our ambitious goal of $2.5 million.

We ask you now as Coach Steen asked us before, to take the next step in Kenyon’s legacy of excellence. We encourage you all to consider financially supporting the endowment fund — with either one-time contributions or multi-year pledges.

You can make a gift online, set up recurring contributions, or make a multi-year pledge of any size to help maximize the impact of your commitment. For example, a pledge of $2,500 now can be given as $500 per year for the next five years. Every size contribution matters — just like each of us mattered on the team. Let us ensure that the Kenyon Swimming and Diving legacy continues for future generations.

Be sure to check whether your company matches charitable contributions, as many employers provide partial or full matches for their employees' philanthropy.

Please reach out with any questions. We are grateful for your commitment to our team!

Thank you,
Rachel Berger ’11
Kellyn Caldwell ’12
Kris Caldwell ’84
Brian Dowdall ’93
Kyle Laux ‘03
Jim Parker ’81
Kim Wallace, Development Officer, Athletics and Affinity