55th Annual Around the Island Marathon postponed until 2021! Find out more info!

Making a Difference

One swimmer at a time!

Who we are!

Green Whales Inc. ...

is a NJ Non Profit 501(c)(3) that encompasses all that we do for the swim community! Green Whales Inc. funds Whelan’s Whales, the Greenheads Swimming age group swim team, and the Greenheads Special Olympics swim team.

In July 2020, we will host the 7th Annual Brigantine Open Water Swim. Registration opens May 1, 2020.

Learn More

The Whelan’s Whales program was featured in the Press of Atlantic City, news article link, and on SNJ Today, YouTube link.

Brigantine open water swim registration!

Our Programs

Whelan's Whales

Greenheads Swimming

Whelan’s Whales is a free swim lesson and water safety program provided to the children of Atlantic City. This program is run with Jim Whelan’s belief that all children living on the island should learn to swim and be safe in the water.

Whelan’s Whales was created by the owners and staff of the Brigantine Aquatic Center in 2017. Local coaches, lifeguards, and older athletes taught over 300 children to swim in 2018, the inaugural year.

With the help of the community, we hope to make Whelan's Whales a year round program reaching 500+ children in Atlantic City.

Whelan's Whales is also providing scholarships to several young swimmers as they transition out of lessons to the Greenheads Swim Team.

www.whelanswhales.org

Greenheads Swimming

Our Greenheads age group swim team has been a nonprofit team since 2002, providing year round scholarships and financial assistance to numerous athletes in Atlantic County.

The Greenheads participate in USA Swimming as well as two leagues, winter and summer.

With the help of Green Whales Inc. we are able to scholarship athletes in need and keep costs low for all of our families.

Being a Greenhead isn't just being part of a team, it's being part of a FAMILY! We actively promote getting our athletes involved in the community; teaching them how to give back!

www.greenheadsswimming.org

Winter League: www.gsjsl.org

Summer League: www.streamlinessl.org

Greenheads SONJ

Greenheads Swimming

Greenheads SONJ

The Greenheads Special Olympics swim team was added to the Greenheads Swimming family as a free program to special needs children from Atlantic County.

This swim team has athletes as young as 8 into adulthood. Many of these athletes are participating in the Greenheads swimming league meets and Championships.

The Greenheads Swim Team also set up a buddy program with our SONJ athletes during practice and swim meets.

Green Whales Inc. will be sponsoring the Special Olympics Area 7 & Area 8 Aquatics Swim Meet on March 10, 2019 at Atlantic City High School. More information on this meet can be found on www.usasmeetdirector.com.

Support Green Whales Inc!

Your generous donation will fund our mission; helping swimmers from Atlantic City and Atlantic County, NJ!

Green Whales Inc. relies solely on donations and sponsorship to operate. One of the easiest things to do is use our Amazon Smile link when making purchasing through Amazon.

You can also submit a donation to our organization via personal/business check.

Pictured to the left are just a few of the Atlantic City youth that have benefited from your generosity!

Our board of Trustees

Robin Taylor

I started my career in swimming as an instructor, coach as well as a volunteer for special needs swimmers at what is now the Ocean County YMCA, where I eventually became the head instructor for Red Cross CPR & First Aid. After obtaining the rank of lieutenant at the local first aid squad, I was one of the first to complete a new state paramedic program at the Community Hospital of Toms River. As my professional career took a temporary turn away from swimming, I secured employment at one of the casinos in Atlantic City. I never, however, left my community commitment and continued to give back to the community by fundraising over $1million for Muscular Dystrophy foundation.

Missing the world of swimming, I set out to build an aquatic center to share the passion I have for swimming with others. We opened Brigantine Aquatic Center (BAC) in 2001 and have made it my full-time commitment for the last 7 years. Since the BAC opened, we’ve taught more than 5000 children how to swim and have established a swim team, Special Olympics swim team, and a Master’s Team. Our affiliations include USA Swimming, USA Masters Swimming, SONJ, Massi’s Mission, and the American Red Cross. Last year, together with several members of the BAC family, I launched Whelan’s Whales, a free-swimming program for the inner-city youth of Atlantic City. In its first 6 months, the program taught over 300 children to swim! Additionally, I manage and staff 11 private outdoor pools, run several very successful Open Water events, and organize food drives and fundraisers.

Sari Carroll

Robin Taylor

My goal as a swim instructor and coach is to instill the love of swimming in children while giving back to the community. I started swimming as a child at the Ocean County YMCA and swam competitively for both the OCY Tiger Sharks and Central Regional High School swim teams. Shortly after my mother opened Brigantine Aquatic Center, I started working as an instructor and the Head Deck Coach for the Greenheads swim team. I am a volunteer instructor for the FACES for Autism Water Safety program, Massi's Mission, and the founder of the Greenheads Swimming Special Olympic Team. I work closely with Make a Splash, a USA Swimming Foundation program, and am Program Coordinator and co-founder of Whelan’s Whales. I am an American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor and Water Safety Instructor, a Certified USA Swimming Coach and Official, an Open Water Swim Coach, a Greenheads Swimming Master Swimmer, and consistently thinking of new ways of using swimming for community outreach.

Karen Bown

Robin Taylor

Karyn Adams

Swimming has always been part of my life. Growing up, I competed with the Millville Marlins Swim Team. As an adult, I became certified with Middle Atlantic Swimming as a Meet Director, and Operational Risk Director, where I provide services to several swim teams throughout South Jersey. I’m also a certified Administrative Official and Stroke & Turn Official with USA Swimming.

For the Brigantine Aquatic Center and the Greenheads Swim Team, I’ve been a part-time swim coach, Team Manager, and USA Masters Swimmer. Passionate about running, I’ve completed several 5K’s, 10K’s, 10Mi’s, half-marathons, and a full Marathon.

Karyn Adams

Melissa Peticolas

Karyn Adams

My involvement with Whelan’s Whales, Greenheads Special Olympics Swim Team, and Brigantine Aquatics Center is deeply personal. My son, Stanley, is Autistic. Through BAC’s commitment to teaching water safety to all members of the community, he participated in lessons through Massi’s Mission and FACES 4 Autism. Along with his brother Stephon, Stan learned to swim in just 6 months. He went on to join the Absegami High School Swim Team and became the captain of the Greenheads Special Olympics Swim Team. Stephon will also be following in his older brother’s footsteps by joining both teams.

The peace of mind my husband and I have knowing that our boys will be safe in the water is priceless, and we enjoy watching them become involved in such a great sport. It’s my hope that through the Whelan’s Whales program, many other parents will experience the same feeling while their children discover the sport of swimming.

Chuck Taylor

Melissa Peticolas

Along with my wife Robin, I embraced the concept of a community pool for exercise, instruction, and a competitive swim team. After two years of hard work, literally building it from the ground up, we opened Brigantine Aquatic Center in 2001 where I was the first swim instructor. I’m a certified lifeguard and taught swimming when the center first opened. As a certified Pool Operator, I not only keep BAC up and running year-round, I also manage other pools at several condo complexes in Brigantine and Atlantic City. Outside of the pool, I spend time as a HAM radio operator and an amateur astronomer.

Melissa Peticolas

we're in the news!

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

Whelan's Whales bringing swim lessons to Atlantic City!

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

54th Around the Island Marathon

DOWNBEACH.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

DAILYNEWS.OPENWATERSWIMMING.COM

Jim Whelan Open Water Festival

DAILYNEWS.OPENWATERSWIMMING.COM

History Returns: Jim Whelan Open Water Festival

GLOBALSWIMSERIES.COM

DAILYNEWS.OPENWATERSWIMMING.COM

GLOBALSWIMSERIES.COM

“Around the Island Marathon” becomes the longest race in the GSS!

SNJ Today

DAILYNEWS.OPENWATERSWIMMING.COM

GLOBALSWIMSERIES.COM

Whelan's Whales to Help Inner-City Children Learn to Swim for Free | SNJ Today News

Making a Difference

One swimmer at a time!

Who we are!

Green Whales Inc. ...

Learn More

Our Programs

Whelan's Whales

Greenheads Swimming

Greenheads Swimming

Greenheads Swimming

Greenheads Swimming

Greenheads Swimming

Greenheads SONJ

Greenheads Swimming

Greenheads SONJ

Support Green Whales Inc!

Our board of Trustees

Robin Taylor

Robin Taylor

Robin Taylor

Sari Carroll

Robin Taylor

Robin Taylor

Karen Bown

Robin Taylor

Karyn Adams

Karyn Adams

Melissa Peticolas

Karyn Adams

Chuck Taylor

Melissa Peticolas

Melissa Peticolas

Melissa Peticolas

Melissa Peticolas

Melissa Peticolas

GWI Crushes covid-19 virtual fun run/walk

SWIMMERS ONLY RUN DURING QUARANTINE!

we're in the news!

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

DOWNBEACH.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

DAILYNEWS.OPENWATERSWIMMING.COM

DAILYNEWS.OPENWATERSWIMMING.COM

DAILYNEWS.OPENWATERSWIMMING.COM

DAILYNEWS.OPENWATERSWIMMING.COM

GLOBALSWIMSERIES.COM

DAILYNEWS.OPENWATERSWIMMING.COM

GLOBALSWIMSERIES.COM

SNJ Today

DAILYNEWS.OPENWATERSWIMMING.COM

GLOBALSWIMSERIES.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

PRESSOFATLANTICCITY.COM

2019 whelan's whales & JWOWF Supporters