Recipients of the National Swimming Pool Foundation’s (NSPF’s) 2017 Step Into Swim™ campaign, a 10-year initiative to create one million more swimmers, have been named.
The following organizations will benefit from the $78,750 received this year: Angels of America’s Fallen, EVO Swim School, Jewish Community Center Association, New York State Parks, SwimToday, YMCA, and 14 individual learn-to-swim programs selected by Master Pools Guild members. All funds are directed toward learn-to-swim programs, while the NSPF is covering all administrative costs.
“Teaching children to swim is the one charitable gift that prevents drowning, improves health and happiness, and builds demand for everything around the pool,” says NSPF CEO Thomas Lachocki.
Many of the 2017 donors directed their contributions to programs that are impacted in their own towns.
“Thankfully, more leaders are getting deep satisfaction by giving locally,” said campaign chair Dr. Anita Sayed of Playcore.
Master Pools Guild (MPG) members have allocated $10,000 to support the following local learn-to-swim programs:
- Robert Lee YMCA (British Columbia)
- Tong Louie YMCA (British Columbia)
- Westside YMCA of Tulsa (Oklahoma)
- Simi Valley Family YMCA (California)
- First Stroke Swim School (Australia)
- Swim Texas Swim School (Texas)
- Nisha Millets Swimming Academy (India)
- YMCA of Greater Birmingham (Alabama)
- Maui Family YMCA (Hawaii)
- Health Unlimited Family Fitness & Aquatics Center (Maryland)
- Mercy Health & Recreation Center (Ohio)
- SWIMS Foundation (Florida), LAPS (South Carolina), and Rock Solid (Louisiana)
SwimToday, organized by USA Swimming, is getting a $25,000 grant to promote swimming in the country. It uses positive messaging, such as the 2016 campaign focused on the Olympic Games and the Disney movie Finding Dory, and affirms that swimming is the “funnest sport” with posters, club support materials, and public service announcements.
The Jewish Community Center (JCC) Association is receiving $22,000, which will fund the special needs swim programs at 20 JCCs. Another 20 JCCs are receiving funding to provide swim lessons to five or more children from Angels of America’s Fallen (AOAF), a third-year campaign recipient, at each of their locations. It funds swimming for the children of fallen military and first responders. The American Chemistry Council has directed their donation to this program.
Momentum continues to grow with the New York State Parks (NY State Parks) learn-to-swim program, which started with the collaboration of the NSPF, Red Cross, and NY State Parks five years ago. Today, the program has expanded to 27 NY State Parks where approximately 3000 children are taught each year. Since the program started, the NY Department of Health, Master Pools Guild, and the Northeast Spa & Pool Association (NESPA) Foundation has donated to the efforts.
“This is a great example of government, non-profits, and industry collaborating and changing thousands of people’s lives for the better,” said NSPF board chairman Bruce Dunn.
One of the great outcomes of the Step Into Swim Campaign is that more industry leaders are engaging with local water enthusiasts. For instance, National Pools of Roanoke in Virginia has donated to two local YMCA splash programs. To support their generosity, the campaign made an additional $500 donation to these facilities. Dunn has championed the campaign; he and his company, Mission Pools, donate generously in their community. In support, the campaign has donated $500 to the YMCA of San Diego (California). Desert-Aire Corporation and architectural firm Purdy and Associates has contributed funds directed to Arizona-based EVO Swim School to support their mission of serving parents, children, and adults with aquatic education.
Industry leaders who are invested in their local community, and the community of their customers, value knowing where their contributions are directed. For more information on the Step Into Swim campaign, visit www.stepintoswim.org.
