At Watermelon Swim, our mission is about more than creating safer swimmers; it’s about building stronger, more supported communities both in and out of the pool. From raising scholarship funds for our Students with Disabilities program to collecting food donations for Feeding Tampa Bay, our hearts are full of giving this holiday season. Now, we’re excited to kick off one of our favorite annual traditions: the Merry Melon Giving Tree!
Our Giving Tree program is a cherished Watermelon Swim tradition that helps bring holiday cheer to Tampa Bay families facing financial hardship. Since 2007, this program has supported hundreds of families by providing gifts, meals, clothing, and more. It’s important to us that every child can experience the joy of the holidays. This year, we’re continuing that mission while also sharing the gift we know best: the gift of swim!
How it Works:
From December 1st through December 17th, you can visit any of our five locations to pick an ornament from our Merry Melon Giving Tree. Each ornament represents a wish list from a local family in need. You can fulfill their wish by purchasing the listed gift and bringing it to your local Watermelon Swim, new and unwrapped, with the corresponding ornament attached.
You may pick multiple ornaments, or just one; anything helps!
Prefer to give online? Check out our curated online Giving Tree Retail Shop or the Merry Melon Amazon Wish List, which allows you to purchase gifts directly and have them shipped to our Wesley Chapel location. Team Melon will then transform our Wesley Chapel site into Santa’s Workshop, where we’ll organize and wrap all the donations for families to pick up before Christmas.
Need Assistance or Know a Family Who Does?
The nomination form will be released on November 12th and will close once we have hit capacity. Stay tuned to our social media and website for an announcement and a link to the form. Our team will review submissions as they come in and will reach out with a confirmation email. Space is limited, so be sure to apply early!
Every nomination, every gift, and every act of kindness helps a local family feel seen and supported this season. Thank you, Melon Families, for your generosity and for helping us build a community of safer, stronger, and more connected families.