To the editor:

Thank you for your article regarding the South Whidbey Parks and Aquatics Foundation (SWPAF). The board members are thrilled that news of our organization has garnered some media attention. We wanted to clarify a few points.

SWPAF supports all aspects of the parks mission. We are contributing to scholarship funds to defray costs to needy participants of any parks program. We are a conduit for the tax-deductible donation of land for trails, money for programming, in-kind donation of services, grants for capital expenses and private donations to the parks.

As well, we are a group of volunteers that has assisted with many of the parks programs. We hope to expand our volunteer base.

Since its inception, the comprehensive plan has included a pool. We are happy that the pool has not been rejected by the parks commission as an option for the future. As residents of an island, we should be committed to reducing one of the primary modes of accidental death in kids: drowning. To that end, we hope to help our youngsters learn to swim through parks programs. As far as working on our obesity epidemic, we believe that an active lifestyle is essential for all members of our community. Ensuring access and variety of parks programs can assist in this endeavor.

Finally, we are a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that does not have any “expiration date” on our nonprofit status.

Again, thank you for the article.

Kristan Wheeler

Recording Secretary

South Whidbey Parks and Aquatics Foundation