USA Swimming Foundation Surpasses 4 Million Children Served Through Swim Lessons

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Ten people drown each day in the United States.

Seventy percent of African-American children, 60 percent of Latino children, and 40 percent of Caucasian children have low or no swimming ability, which increases their risk of drowning and drowning related injuries and shuts them off from numerous water activities that are associated with physiological, emotional, and behavioral development.

Young children who swim reach key milestones earlier than their peers. Watch and share video.

The USA Swimming Foundation, the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming, has provided more than $4 million in grants to Make a Splash Local Partners for free and low cost swimming lessons nationwide to spread national awareness and bring together strategic partners to end drowning.  They announced in May 2016, that more than 4 million children have participated in swim lessons since the Make a Splash initiative began in 2007.

Through the 750-member Make a Splash Local Partner network, the USA Swimming Foundation has the goal of providing swim lessons to 1 million children annually by December 31, 2017.

“Formal swimming lessons can reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88 percent and no child should miss out on swim lessons because of barriers we can overcome,” Debbie Hesse, Executive Director of the USA Swimming Foundation said, according to one source.

In San Antonio, TX (63.2% Latino) the USA Swimming Foundation partnered with local to provide swim lessons through Viva Swim and Make a Splash.

More needs to be done across the country.

Read about a low income neighborhood in Minneapolis that fiercely defended their only indoor pool here.

In Broward County, FL, parks and schools work together to teach kids how to swim.

Register on our site and connect with others interested in ensuring that all kids learn how to swim for safety, health, and overall wellbeing.