Berlin, Md. – With 2015 just hours behind them, more than 1,000 revelers donned
their penguin gear and ran into the Atlantic Ocean at 91st Street in Ocean
City for the AGH Penguin Swim. The turnout for the 22nd annual New Year’s
Day event was fantastic, far surpassing previous attendance numbers.
“This was the largest crowd I’ve ever seen for the Penguin
Swim,” said Michael Franklin, president and CEO of Atlantic General
Hospital, and also an annual participant. “It’s a great event
to bring our community and visitors together to have a lot of fun doing
something a little crazy, and at the same time help one of the most important
assets in our community.”
The success of the event is due, in great part, to Penguin Swim co-chairs
Sal Fasano and Madalaine How as well as the support of the communities
and resort visitors Atlantic General Hospital serves.
The record-breaking crowd arrived decked-out for the event, if not as penguins
then as Minions, mermaids, bananas, characters from the hit 80s movie,
“The Goonies,” and more.
At last tally, the 2016 Swim has raised $104,000 for the not-for-profit
hospital, but that number may increase as final donations make their way
to the AGH Foundation.
The notables from the event:
Top Fundraisers
Individual
- Craig Kettler (Leesburg, Va.), $3,510
- Butch “Woody” German (Baltimore, Md.), $1,837
- Gary Miller(Berlin, Md.), $1,150
Team – Business Category
- Bull on the Beach (Ocean City, Md.), $28,000*
- AGH Poppin’ Penguins (Berlin, Md.), $4,000
- Fisher’s Popcorn (Ocean City, Md.), $1,000
*The Bull on the Beach team has contributed more than $400,000 to the AGH
Penguin Swim since it started.
Team – Community Groups Category
- Ocean City Ravens Roost #44 (Ocean City, Md.), $12,350
- The Parke at Ocean Pines (Ocean Pines, Md.), $4,550
- The Jamboys (Baltimore, Md.), $2,160
Individual – 18 & Under Division
- Benjamin Kettler, age 16 (Leesburg, Va.), $525
- Lilliana Franklin, age 18 (Berlin, Md.), $500
- Nicholas Franklin, age 13 (Berlin, Md.), $500
Team - 18 & Under Division
- Stephen Decatur High School (Berlin, Md.), $705
- 2 Beach Cuties (Reisterstown, Md.), $265
- Team Ty (Reisterstown, Md.), $240
Prizes were also awarded for the youngest and oldest swimmers and winners
of the costume contest.
- Youngest Penguin: Vincent Fasano (Ocean City, Md.) (3 months and 20 days old)
- Oldest Penguin: Papa Joe Gaffney (Selbyville, De.) (82 years and 10 months young)
Costume Contest
-
Best Overall Costume - “The Goonies” led by JJ Roth, Ocean City, Md.
- Most Spirited - Tom Maly, Addie Aker & Maggie Miller from Ravens Roost
44, Ocean City, Md.
- Most Creative - “Pirates Rule” from Bethany Vikings, Selbyville, Del.
- Best Little Penguin - “3 Little Mermaids” from It’s 5
O’clock Somewhere, McKenna, Sienna & Keera, Effort, Pa.
Special thanks to the AGH Penguin Swim sponsors, including WBOC-TV 16,
Jolly Roger Amusement Parks, AGH Auxiliary, D3Corp, Bull on the Beach,
Princess Royale, Trond’s Pool Care, Clear Channel Outdoor, Casino
at Ocean Downs, Bluewater Development, OC Wasabi, Comcast Spotlight, Chris
Parypa Photography and Direct Media USA.
About Atlantic General Hospital
Atlantic General Hospital has been providing quality health care to the
residents of Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset (Md.) and Sussex (Del.) counties
since May 1993. Built by the commitment and generosity of a dedicated
community, the hospital’s state-of-the-art facility in Berlin, Md.,
combines old-fashioned personal attention with the latest in technology
and services. It provides quality specialty care such as weight loss surgery,
orthopedics, outpatient infusion for individuals with cancer or blood/autoimmune
disorders, retina surgery and a comprehensive women’s diagnostic
center. Atlantic General Health System, its network of more than 40 primary
care providers and specialists, care for residents and visitors throughout
the region. For more information about Atlantic General Hospital, visit
www.atlanticgeneral.org.