Swimming for wishes
Crocs swimmers advertise fresh lemonade with homemade signs. The proceeds went to Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Although the Castle Crocs swim team has been busy this summer competing in meets and preparing for the respective end-of-season championships and All-Stars events, in June, they took time away from the water to do something bigger than themselves. The swim team raised money for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado (MAW), the organization that grants wishes for children with serious illnesses.
The Crocs journey with MAW began last summer when the nonprofit contacted Crocs Social Chair MacKenzie Boeckmann, who recalled, “When Make-A-Wish reached out to us, we knew that we wanted to do something more than just swim meets. We wanted to build up community.”
After a successful run last year, where the team raised $8,871, the Crocs were motivated to increase their efforts this year. More than 200 swimmers, ages 4 to 18, were supported by stories sent home with them of MAW kids dreaming of water-based wishes, such as trips to Hawaii or in-home hot tubs. Swimmers saw that their fundraising would go to kids just like them who loved water. The result was an outpouring of creative fundraising: some swimmers organized lemonade and Popsicle stands, while others did extra chores at home or got their parents to match their contributions, which led to many family friends, extended family members and co-workers also pitching in. Along the way, swimmers earned prizes for reaching certain fundraising thresholds, with the top earners receiving a VIP tent and VIP parking at a future swim meet.
By the end of the fundraising period, the Crocs raised $9,621, and with the average wish costing $7,500, the Crocs donated enough to grant one wish and then some. And with more than 27 kids in Douglas County hoping to have their wishes fulfilled, the Crocs know their hard work this summer has been more than just swimming.
“A wish can really change a lot of lives, not only for the Wish kids, but for their family or even for the people who are giving back or raising money,” noted MacKenzie. The Crocs gathered as a team with a special pancake day on June 19, where swimmers played games with their coaches, ate pancakes and celebrated their journey together for a good cause.
The fundraising is still open! If you are interested in helping the Crocs raise more for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado, you can donate here: site.wish.org/goto/CastleCrocs2026.
Ellie, Avery and Winnie Sokoloski ran a Popsicle stand to raise money for Make-A-Wish Foundation.
By Emma Waggett; photo courtesy of MacKenzie Boeckmann
