Swim Across America – Fairfield County is celebrating 20 years of making waves in the fight against cancer with a fun Make Waves T-Shirt Design Contest for Fairfield County, Connecticut, middle and high school students. Teens have the opportunity to design an impactful and meaningful t-shirt design that will be featured on the back of the commemorative 20th Anniversary t-shirt, worn by swimmers, volunteers, and supporters throughout the 2026 season. The annual swim will take place on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 96 Cummings Point Road in Stamford, Connecticut, and attracts hundreds of swimmers, volunteers, boaters, kayakers, paddle boarders and spectators.
“This is our 20th year making waves to fight cancer,” said Nancy Carr, event director for Swim Across America – Fairfield County. “For this milestone year, we wanted to do something special to really commemorate the swim. Our participants love our t-shirts and wear them for years, so we thought what better way than to have a really cool and impactful shirt created by those in our community. The event attracts a lot of swimmers and volunteers of all ages, but an especially large contingent are area teens. This is a fun, new way for them to get involved and build excitement about this year’s swim.”
Open to all Fairfield County middle and high school students, the Make Waves T-Shirt Design Contest celebrates creativity, community and compassion. Submissions will be accepted now through March 15, 2026, with a panel of judges selecting the final design and second and third place winners. The Grand Prize design will be printed on 2026 shirts, which will then be used to help raise funds at Swim Across America Fairfield County events from May through November. The t-shirts will also be donated to pediatric cancer patients at Yale Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering, accompanied by a visit from DASH the Dolphin, Swim Across America’s beloved mascot.
This year’s Swim Across America – Fairfield County event has an ambitious goal: raising $1 million for cancer research, with funds supporting the Stamford, Connecticut-based Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT). Notably, 100% of funds donated to ACGT go directly to support critical cancer gene cell and gene therapy research and clinical trials. Swim Across America – Fairfield County has donated more than $6 million to ACGT since its first Fairfield County swim in 2007.
The Make Waves T-Shirt Design Contest Grand Prize Winner Receives:
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Their design featured on the back of the 20th Anniversary Swim Across America – Fairfield County commemorative T-shirt
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A $250 gift card
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A Swim Across America swag bundle and gift cards to favorite local restaurants
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Opportunity to ride in the Swim Across America – Fairfield County Old Greenwich Memorial Day parade vehicle
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PR, press, website, and social media recognition
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Recognition and spotlight at the June 20, 2026, Open Water Swim
Second & Third Place Winners Receive:
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Gift cards to favorite local restaurants
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PR, press, website, and social media recognition
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The Make Waves T-Shirt Design Contest is open to Fairfield County, Connecticut, middle and high school students
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Design must fit on an 8-½” x 11” paper (to fit back of t-shirt)
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Designs can be original drawings, paintings, collages, photographs, etc.
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Designs must be original and created by the student. No AI-generated designs please
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Deadline: March 15, 2026
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Original designs are submitted via an online form by uploading a drawing, painting, collage, photograph, etc., at swimacrossamerica.org/tshirt
Full rules and submission details are available at www.swimacrossamerica.org/tshirt.
Design Guidelines:
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Must reference the 20th Anniversary or 20th Annual
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Must include the swim date: June 20, 2026
Design inspiration may include:
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“Make Waves to Fight Cancer”
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Stamford lighthouse imagery
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DASH the Dolphin
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Swimmers, boaters, paddle boarders, kayakers, and land volunteers
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Images that reflect the spirit, hope, and community of the swim
“This design competition is about more than creating a great T-shirt,” Carr noted. “For 20 years, Swim Across America – Fairfield County shirts have symbolized courage, resilience, and community – and are worn proudly long after the swim ends. This year’s shirt will showcase the creativity of our youth while bringing joy to young cancer patients.”
Swim Across America – Fairfield County encourages swimmers, volunteers, boaters, kayakers, paddle boarders, and land supporters to register now and be part of this milestone year. Together, the community can make waves to fight cancer — and help fund life-saving research. Visit swimacrossamerica.org/fc to learn more.
To learn more about the T-Shirt Design Contest, visit www.swimacrossamerica.org/tshirt. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Nancy Carr at nancycarr@swimacrossamerica.org
