Launched in 2020, Swim for the Light has become an annual effort within the Valley swimming and diving community. (Submitted Photo/DigitalFreePress)
Staff Reports | Free Press Philanthropy
Valleywise Health Foundation and Xavier College Preparatory have launched the seventh annual Swim for the Light fundraising campaign to support behavioral health programs at Valleywise Health.
The campaign runs through Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, when student-athletes, coaches, alumni and families will gather for a culminating swim event focused on mental health awareness and support for behavioral health services. Participants will complete 100-yard relays during the event, according to a press release.
Launched in 2020, Swim for the Light has become an annual effort within the Valley swimming and diving community. Community members are encouraged to support the campaign through donations and participation as organizers work toward the event’s fundraising goal.
“Swim for the Light is a reminder that no one should have to navigate mental health alone,” said Lisa Hartsock, CEO of Valleywise Health Foundation. “This student-led initiative continues to inspire our community year after year. As we count down to September 18, we’re asking the community to join us in helping expand access to compassionate, specialized behavioral health care for teens and young adults across Arizona.”
Xavier College Preparatory’s Swim & Dive Team has led the effort since the event began, bringing together students, alumni, coaches and supporters to raise awareness and funding for behavioral health services.
“Our athletes are driven not just in the pool, but in making a difference beyond it,” said David Smithers, assistant swim coach of Xavier College Preparatory Swim & Dive. “The weeks leading up to Swim for the Light give our students, alumni and coaches the opportunity to raise awareness for behavioral health programs for teens and young adults at Valleywise Health. We want to help end the stigma, encourage meaningful conversations about mental health, and remind people that it’s okay to ask for help.”
Campaign participants are seeking to raise $15,000 by Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, to support Valleywise Health behavioral health initiatives. Funding will help support programs including the First Episode Center, which provides care for adolescents and young adults experiencing early psychosis.
Valleywise Health is Arizona’s largest provider of inpatient psychiatric care and serves thousands of patients annually. Organizers said community members can also support the campaign by creating fundraisers through sports teams, clubs and other organizations before the campaign concludes on Sept. 18.
