When Paly’s brand new pool opens next fall for the water polo season, sandals, towels, and sunscreen bottles won’t be the only things lining the pool deck.

The Athletic Communities Create Exceptional Leaders (ACCEL) Foundation is sponsoring the "Buy a Brick" Campaign to raise money for Paly’s pool-renovation project.

Individuals who wish to contribute to the aquatic center project can buy a personalized brick with up to 45 characters inscribed upon it for a minimum donation of $500. The donated bricks will in turn be placed at the pool entrance and around the interior deck area.

"For the next 30-40 years people will be walking around reading those bricks, with messages about past, present, and future Paly students," said ACCEL board member and pool project coordinator Barb Champion. "The idea of being able to create a permanent message appeals to a lot of people."

Junior water polo player Adrian Chow agrees.  "It would be really cool to come back a few years later to see a brick that I donated," he said.

While the "Buy a Brick" Campaign is sure to rally much excitement about the new pool, its primary purpose remains to fund the hefty $1,767,000 cost of renovation.  The brand new aquatic center will feature, among other things, 16 swimming lanes, new bleachers, and new fencing. As of now, ACCEL hopes to sell around 300 bricks in order to raise at least $150,000 more to help pay off the remaining construction budget. Even more money may be required as construction plans also call for lights and a new scoreboard.

Champion anticipates that the campaign should appeal to businesses who wish to use the bricks as permanent advertisements.

Champion also encourages all members of the Paly community to consider donating to the campaign.  "The brick project is geared for all Paly alumni and current and future students," she said.  "All students have benefited from the old pool at Paly and all will benefit from the new pool."

"It’s just a really good opportunity to support the pool, the team,
and the community," junior swimmer Robbie Nakamura said.

Those interested in donating to the "Buy a Brick" Campaign should contact the campaign’s organizers at [email protected].