Our Mission

Our Mission is to be a sustainable and successful not for profit that harnesses the creativity and networks of its principal supporters to raise money to strengthen and support worthy organizations that service, support and honor our Veterans.

Our Founders

We started Swim With A Mission because we felt that we needed to do something!  No Veteran should have to struggle to get help, but too many can’t find the services they need and deserve.  Every person who ever served, and each member of their families has sacrificed something to keep the rest of us free.  We live in the land of the free and the home of the brave, because of the brave!  Our freedom is not free!  We hope that you will join us on this mission to help, support and honor our Veterans.

Our original event in 2017 was a swim across beautiful Newfound Lake, the cleanest lake in the Northeast.  We couldn’t believe how many people came out to support this effort.  So over the following few years, we added new events, like Paintball With A Mission (a team building event led the Navy SEALs), SWAM’s Navy SEAL Gold Star Family Tribute Dinner and Auction, Green Beret With A Mission Challenge and much more.  We can’t wait for you to see what we have planned next!  Please check out the rest of our website for more details.  

As we continue to evolve and understand more about the needs of our Veterans, we are focusing more on mental health and reducing Veteran suicide.  We are doing this by strategically funding recreational retreats that get Veterans together with other Veterans.  We are funding equine immersion programs, art therapy and mental health counseling.  We are also paying for as many service and support dogs for Veterans as we can.  By doing all of that and then working to build bridges among all the Veteran service organizations in our community, less Veterans will fall through the cracks.  So, annually we hold a summit where we get all of our local Veteran service organizations together in one room with the VA and other stakeholders to continue to encourage them to work closely together and address concerns facing Veterans in our community. 

We are also focused on the importance of remembering and honoring those that have made the ultimate sacrifice and their Gold Star families.  At all of our events and on our website, we honor the 95 soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines that we have lost in service in the War on Terror since 9/11.  Never Forget!  We also offer the opportunity for individuals and businesses to purchase our Never Forget Plaques so they can also honor our fallen heroes.  

We are so grateful that our first seven years have been such a great success and are especially appreciative of every donor, sponsor, swimmer, volunteer and participant who have helped make this mission victorious!  We have an incredible Board, Advisory Board  and group of dedicated volunteers that are working hard to make next year even better.  We are grateful to our friends and family (especially to our children Benjamin and Dani) for joining our mission.  Please join us to make a difference!

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • Phil Taub

    CO-FOUNDER & BOARD CHAIR

    Partner at Nixon Peabody, LLP

  • Kelly Ayotte

    DIRECTOR

    Former US Senator and Former NH Attorney General

  • Andy Crews

    DIRECTOR

    Crews Holding

  • Angelo Mazzella

    DIRECTOR

    Thirty Capital

  • Jeff Hiatt

    DIRECTOR

    Owner, Performance Business Solutions, Inc.

  • Steve Talarico

    DIRECTOR

    Entrepreneur

  • Mark J. Aquilino

    DIRECTOR

    President at Outdoor Pride Landscape & Snow Management

  • Sal DeFranco

    DIRECTOR

    Former Navy SEAL

  • Todd Wheatley

    DIRECTOR

    Owner | Heartfelt Homes

OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM

Our Advisory Board

  • Symmetry Pilates Center Owner/Operator

  • Former Navy SEAL, Director at Pinkston Strategy

  • Optiline Enterprises Owner / Operator

  • Optiline Enterprises Owner / Operator

  • NH Fisher Cats Chief Executive Officer

  • Cohen Closing & Title Founder

  • Cintas Director of Sales

  • Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Safety

  • Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation Inc. Research Analyst

  • Retired Navy SEAL

  • President iHeartMedia NH

  • Founder and CEO of New England Hospitality

  • Co-founder of New North Ventures | Fusing National Security and Innovation Through Private Capital

  • Retired Navy SEAL, Insurance Agent at New York Life Insurance Company

  • Gold Star Mother

  • Life Coach, Consultant, Military and Veteran Advocate

  • Retired Navy SEAL

  • CEO-The MFO Group / MFO Capital

  • OSG Pitball Owner/Operator

  • Retire Navy SEAL, Leadership Coach and Thought Partner, Motivational Speaker

  • Retired Navy SEAL, Small Businessman, Volunteer Firefighter, Reserve Deputy Sheriff

  • Retired Navy SEAL, Nuclear Engineer at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

  • Partner at Lake Street Advisors

  • LT USN (SEAL) RET. PA-C, MBA-C

  • Real Estate Broker at Keller Williams, Lakes and Mountains and Coastal

Swimming With A Mission Inc. is a 501-(c)-(3) non profit organization.
All events are fundraisers to further support Veteran service organizations.

Testimonials

  • I think the beat part was the interaction between teams, lots of team building and interpersonal communication surrounding the veteran community.

    Scott H. - Paintball Event

  • We were barely out of our kayaks when we were talking about which volunteer activity we want to do next year. Unbelievable when considering how much had to go into making the day run smoothly.

    Dave and Cathy R. - Swim Event

  • The entire event was AMAZING! I learned so much from the seals and it was incredibly inspiring. Great team building event!

    Courtney B. - Paintball Event

  • Don’t know how you could improve on something that was perfect. Count me in for next year. Can’t wait. THANK YOU for all YOU BOTH DO.

    Linda C. - Swim Event

  • The early atmosphere with The Seals and The Mission set the tone that this was bigger than us as individuals. The actual paintball was the highlight, but it was predicated on the introductory events.

    Michael R. - Paintball Event

  • I loved the ease and flow of registration and all of the volunteer support. It was so cool seeing the Seals again, of course! Always a great way to get hyped! I felt prepared and supported for the swim (which terrified me as it was my first 10K!).

    Meghan B. - Swim Event