$160,000 and Counting—The 2025 Alcatraz Swim for Sight Nears Its Goal!
On Sunday, October 5, fifty swimmers braved the chilly waters of the San Francisco Bay for the 2025 Alcatraz Swim for Sight.
This year’s event was chaired by Ari Hirson and administered by the Edward Charles Foundation, with proceeds benefiting the All May See Foundation to support UCSF Ophthalmology faculty research.
The fundraising goal for 2025 is $175,000, and as of this posting, more than $160,000 has already been raised. Donors have until November 5 to make additional contributions in support of the swimmers and this remarkable cause.
We’re close to the finish line—help us get there!
Two easy ways to make an impact:
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Share this page with your friends and network.
Every dollar moves research forward to eliminate blindness and create a world where all may see.
Join us by swimming, donating, volunteering, or cheering on our swimmers at next year’s event.
See photos below from this year’s swim!
Click here to watch Ari Hirson’s interview on Fox 2 – KTVU (Friday, September 15, 2025).
About the Alcatraz Swim for Sight
For more than a decade, the Hirson family has led the Alcatraz Swim for Sight—an inspiring fundraiser challenging swimmers to cross the San Francisco Bay from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park to raise vital funds for vision research.
Their efforts have generated over $1 million to advance the field. After completing the tenth swim in 2022, Ron and Lorie Hirson passed the torch to their sons, Noah and Ari, who successfully organized the 2023 and 2024 swims—raising $154,000 and nearly $200,000, respectively, for the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology.
Inspired by his mother’s experience living with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), Ari continues to lead this event with passion and purpose, helping to drive innovative research to prevent and cure blindness.
The Alcatraz Swim for Sight remains a beacon of hope for the visually impaired worldwide. With Noah and Ari’s leadership, this vital cause continues to thrive, inspiring the next generation in the fight against blindness. – https://www.alcatrazswimforsight.org/