Del Oro Aquatic Center

Kids are grown, but donors say new pool is a way give back

While contributions of every size keep rolling in for the new Del Oro Aquatic Center, three notable donors have committed large donations for the center's redevelopment.

Tony Toohey, co-owner of Magnussen's Auburn Toyota, Paul Johnson of Johnson & Company CPAs, and the Shiro Family have pledged a total of $55,000 towards the new facility.

Tony Toohey, has committed $30,000 dollars from three different resources: $10,000 from Magnussen Auburn Toyota, a matching grant from Toyota Motor Sales, USA, and another $10,000 from the Greater Sacramento New Car Dealer Association, of which Toohey is currently president. "It's time to give the Del Oro High School pool a new persona. We have the ability to make this new recreational and therapeutic aquatic facility the crown jewel of Northern California" says Toohey.

No stranger to the pool, the Toohey family is what you might call a prototypical swim family. Their involvement with the current Del Oro pool and the Loomis Basin Dolphins recreational swim team, spans over a period of 18 years. During that time, the Toohey's three children, Erin, Cristina, and Ryan, swam, coached, played water polo, set records, and won awards. In 2007, Cristina and Ryan, as co-head coaches, took the Dolphins to a 3^rd place finish at the Suburban Swim League Championships.

Paul and Laura Johnson, long-time Loomis residents, donated $20,000. This is in addition to the $5,000 they donated earlier in the campaign. Johnson has been working to get the Del Oro pool facility re-built for the past eight years. Another model swim family, the Johnson children, Nicholas, Joe, and Natalie swam and played water polo for Del Oro High School and swam with the Loomis Basin Dolphins.

"Although my kids are now grown, I know that participating in swimming and water polo has had a profound effect on developing their character and instilling their drive to excel. It has helped shape the people they are today. I know this new facility will provide life-changing experiences for the diverse numbers of individuals who will use the pool. It will also be a source of pride for our community" says Johnson.

The Shiro family contributed $5,000 dollars. Dot Shiro, the president of the Loomis Basin Parks and Recreation Foundation has also been working on a pool transformation on and off for the past 7 years. Dot recounts, " In the late 60's the current pool was built in the same way we are trying to do it today?by people gathering funds and donating their equipment and services. The pool has served Del Oro and the town for the last 40 years, creating a legacy of sportsmanship, aquatic fitness, education, and fun. It is now our turn to take responsibility for that legacy and carry it forward."

These noteworthy donations are joined by other contributions this September, bringing the total amount close to $80,000 for the month. Grace Kamphefner, the Aquatic Center's fundraising chair, is very pleased with the Toohey donation and other contributions. "There are a lot of people who want to see this new facility happen. Our fundraising efforts are gaining momentum and we won't stop until the new facility is a reality."

The Kamphefner family created the $1 Million Dollar Challenge for the new aquatic center. This challenge will match any monetary donation for the new facility up to $1 million dollars. In order to start Phase I of the project, $2 million dollars is needed. The target for the start of construction is mid-2012.

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The Friends of Del Oro Pool is a volunteer organization whose purpose is to create a state-of-the-art pool facility for Del Oro High School and the Loomis Community. All donations are tax deductible and are deposited into a special fund managed by the Placer Union High School District. Anyone interested in making a donation may contact Doug Marquand 530-886-4410 or visit the website: www.deloroaquaticcenter.com .

Media contact: Jamie Mulkey jrmulkey@surewest.net (916) 765-8838