Grants distributed to 117 swim lesson providers to help provide free or reduced-cost swim lessons

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In its continued effort to make swim lessons accessible for every child across the country, the USA Swimming Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States, has awarded an additional $95,739 in its second round of yearly grant funding to swim lessons providers throughout the country. This award brings 2019’s total USA Swimming Foundation grant distributions to $618,200. This money will help fund free or reduced-cost swim lessons in underserved communities around the country. 

“It is so exciting to see the impact these funds make in the lives of these children and these communities,” USA Swimming Foundation Make a Splash Program Director Tina Dessart said. “Formal swim lessons help reduce the risk of drowning by almost 88 percent and swimming is a life-saving skill that all children should have access to, regardless of race, gender or financial circumstance. If you are a parent or grandparent and the children in your life have not yet learned to swim, we urge you to locate a swim lesson provider in your area.”

2019 By The Numbers:

• Grant funding awarded by USA Swimming Foundation: $618,200
• Number of children served free or reduced-cost swim lessons through USA Swimming Foundation Funding: 32,210
• Number of learn-to-swim programs awarded funding by USA Swimming Foundation: 117

Over the past 12 years, more than 1.3 million children have received formalized swim instruction through $6.3 million in grants distributed through the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash swim lesson provider network. 

The USA Swimming Foundation awards grants to swim lesson providers in its national network every year through a competitive application and review process. In total, the USA Swimming Foundation boasts a network that spans more than 1,000 quality swim lesson providers in all 50 states. These swim lesson providers promote water safety education in their communities and provide scholarship opportunities for children to participate in their swim lesson programs. Through these efforts, more than 7.5 million children in total have learned to swim through the Make a Splash swim lesson provider network.

The final round of 2019 grant recipients:

For a full list of all 117 2019 USA Swimming Foundation grant recipients, and to find a swim lesson provider near you, please visit: https://www.usaswimmingfoundation.org

The 2020 grant application window will open on October 1, 2019 for Spring 2020 awards. Swim lesson providers interested in the USA Swimming Foundation’s annual grant program can visit https://www.usaswimmingfoundation.org for more information.