10/14/2026
A Summer of Giving: Free Swim, Christmas in July & a Whole Lot of Joy
Sometimes a little generosity can turn into something much bigger than anyone imagined.
That was the story of this summer at Project SALT.
Thanks in large part to the incredible support generated through Gilly’s Grateful Day, we were able to turn more than $5,000 raised at our annual celebration of peace, love, music, and community into something that would reach families throughout the summer.
And we didn't want that money to simply sit in an account.
We wanted to turn it into experiences, memories, and moments of joy.
Free Family Swim All Summer Long
Every Wednesday evening throughout the summer, families, kids, and individuals from our community were invited to enjoy free family swim at the Wickenburg Town Pool.
Week after week, people showed up.
Kids got to play.
Families got to spend time together.
People who might not otherwise have been able to afford an evening at the pool got the opportunity to simply come out, cool off, and have fun.
There was no complicated application.
No questions about whether someone "qualified."
Just a pool, a Wednesday evening, and an invitation to come enjoy it.
Because sometimes helping people isn't about handing them something they need.
Sometimes it's about giving them an opportunity to experience something they might otherwise miss.
Christmas in July
Then came one of our favorite celebrations of the summer: Christmas in July!
Hundreds of people joined us for an evening filled with fun, community, and a whole lot of Christmas spirit in the middle of an Arizona summer.
And most importantly, we were able to put more than 200 presents into the hands of local kids.
Watching those gifts make their way to children was a reminder of why we do what we do.
For some families, Christmas can be a stressful time financially. So why wait until December to create a little Christmas magic?
We decided July was a pretty good time to spread some joy.
It All Started With Community
None of this happens by accident.
The free swim nights, Christmas in July, and other opportunities we were able to create throughout the summer were made possible because people came together at Gilly’s Grateful Day and decided that their celebration could also be an opportunity to give back.
More than $5,000 was raised through the event, and those dollars became swimming nights, presents, smiles, memories, and moments of connection throughout our community.
That's what Project SALT is all about.
Serving And Loving Together.
It's about taking what we have and figuring out how we can use it to make somebody else's day a little better.
A donation can become a meal.
A volunteer can become a helping hand.
A community event can become a summer of free swimming.
And $5,000 can become hundreds of kids opening presents and countless families enjoying an evening together.
That's the beautiful part.
And We're Doing It Again!
If you missed Gilly's Grateful Day this year, don't worry—we're already looking forward to the next one.
Gilly's Grateful Day returns Saturday, January 30, 2027!
We'll once again bring together music, fun, friendship, and community with one big goal: celebrate life and use that celebration to help others.
We don't know exactly what next year's event will make possible yet.
But that's the fun part.
Because when a community comes together with grateful hearts, there's no telling how far that kindness can travel.
Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered, attended Gilly's Grateful Day, helped with free swim, donated presents, shared our posts, or simply showed up and participated.
You helped make this summer a little brighter.
And we're just getting started.
To learn more about Project SALT, our programs, upcoming events, or how you can get involved, visit projectsaltwickenburg.org.
Be kind. Give what you can. Make somebody smile. And keep Wickenburg kind.
