COLLEGE PARK, Md. (WUSA) -- Parents are trying to keep the University of Maryland's Swim and Dive teams afloat.
A group of 7 made up of parents, alumni and coaches met with the university's athletic director, Kevin Anderson and his staff Tuesday night.
The group that calls itself Save UMD Swim & Dive, Inc. is now a 501(c)3 non profit organization.
The meeting lasted for about an hour and a half. They laid out a business plan they say can save the teams. Since learning about the drastic cuts of 8 varsity teams on campus two months ago, the group says they've come up with solutions:
- Raised $1M in pledges.
- Identified a prospect donor list of 50 prominent individuals with a target of $3M in donations.
- Developed a Business Plan to raise annual revenues in excess of $250,000 for Swimming & Diving.
- Inspired national social media attention with over 250 swimming programs sending photos of support for #Save UMD Swim and Dive and the growth of 14,000 Friends following our Facebook campaign
- Attracted the support of Maryland State Representatives championing their cause, , Ben Krammer (D), Warren Miller (R), Roger Manno (D), Steve Lafferty (D), Susan Aumann (R), William Frank (R) and Senator Jim Brochin (D) and many more.
The parents emerged from the meeting and say they are hopeful and that both parties want to work together to save the teams.
The group is using entrepeneurial skills and fundraising to keep the program going. They've brought up specific ideas to include finding a sponsor for the pools and creating a USA swim team.
The swim program was given a June 30th deadline to raise $11.5 million dollars. But they feel they've come up with something more sustaining. The goal is to extend the program for four more years and create a business plan to help sustain the program in the future.
The group will meet with legislators in Annapolis on Wednesday.