USA Swimming Foundation Surpasses $500,000 In 2017 Grant Funding

In an effort to help swim lesson providers nationwide offer lessons to children who otherwise would not have the opportunity, the  USA Swimming Foundation  has now awarded over $500,000 through its 2017 grant fund. After awarding $342,000 in March 2017 and $130,000 in June 2017, the Foundation is now funding an additional $29,000 to close out the summer. Since 2007, the USA Swimming Foundation has awarded more than $4.4 million dollars to help fund learn-to-swim programs across the country. 

Through funding from the USA Swimming Foundation this year, more than 36,000 children will be served through grants provided to 128 Make a Splash Local Partners. This is the most children the USA Swimming Foundation has served through its annual grant fund in a given year, and the most Make a Splash Local Partner grantees. Over the last 10 years, more than 4.9 million children have received formalized swim instruction through the Make a Splash Local Partner network. 

“The USA Swimming Foundation is extremely proud to provide more than $500,000 in grant funding, thanks to support from our partners and donors over the past year,” says Debbie Hesse, Executive Director for the USA Swimming Foundation. “The 2017 funding will teach thousands of children to swim and provide them with skills that can save and change their lives.”

The USA Swimming Foundation awards grants through a competitive annual application and review process. This year, the Foundation received nearly 200 applications and has awarded 128 grants totaling more than $503,000 to help fund Make a Splash Local Partners across the country. More than 850 Make a Splash Local Partners promote water safety education in their communities and provide scholarships for children to participate in their swim lesson programs.  

With the additional funds, another nine USA Swimming Foundation Make a Splash Local Partners, below, will provide over 1,200 children with swim lessons: 

Boys and Girls club of Paterson and Passaic (Paterson, N.J.) 

City of Elgin (Elgin, Ill.) 

City of Gunnison (Gunnison, Colo.) 

Irving Independent School District (Irving, Texas) 

Metro YMCA of the Oranges (Livingston, N.J.) 

Milton and Betty Katz JCC (Margate City, N.J.) 

Swimtastic, Cape Coral (Cape Coral, Fla.) 

YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties (Mount Laurel, N.J.) 

YMCA of Newark and Greater Vicinity (Newark, N.J.)

“We are so grateful to the USA Swimming Foundation’s grant program for local Make a Splash Partners,” says Dr. Sandi Cravens, Irving Independent School District Health and Physical Education Coordinator. “The grants we have received over the last four years have allowed us to provide learn to swim opportunities to over 500 more students than originally planned, and has helped bring the importance of water safety and learning to swim back into our community.”

For more information on Make a Splash Local Partner Grant Opportunities, visit: www.usaswimmingfoundation.org/makeasplash 

About the USA Swimming Foundation 

The USA Swimming Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming.  Established in 2004, the Foundation works to strengthen the sport by saving lives and building champions— in the pool and in life. Whether we’re equipping our children with the life-saving skill of learn-to-swim through our Make a Splash initiative, or providing financial support to our heroes on the U.S. National Team, the USA Swimming Foundation aims to provide the wonderful experience of swimming to kids at all levels across the country. To learn more, visit www.usaswimmingfoundation.org.

About the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative 

The USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative is a national child-focused water safety campaign, which aims to provide the opportunity for every child in America to learn to swim. Through Make a Splash, the USA Swimming Foundation partners with learn-to-swim providers and water safety advocates across the country to provide swimming lessons and educate children and their families on the importance of learning how to swim. The USA Swimming Foundation has invested millions of dollars to provide grants to qualified Local Partner learn-to-swim programs, to spread national awareness, and to bring together strategic partners to end drowning. To date, 4.9 million children have received the lifesaving gift of swim lessons through the USA Swimming Foundation Make a Splash Local Partner network, comprised of more than 850 qualified lesson providers across the nation. To learn more, visit www.usaswimmingfoundation.org/makeasplash 

Swimming news release courtesy of USA Swimming Foundation.