The YMCA of Greater Cleveland has secured more than $50,000 in grant funding to help more children and families learn essential water safety skills. Funding from YMCA of the USA and the Ohio Alliance of YMCAs enabled the YMCA to provide free water safety instruction to more than 500 individuals across Northeast Ohio.
The grants helped remove financial and other barriers to participation by supporting partnerships with local schools and community organizations that connect families to life-saving swim safety education.
“Learning how to be safe in and around water is a critical skill that can save lives,” said John Rappaport, District Executive Director for the YMCA of Greater Cleveland. “These grants allow us to reach more families and ensure that cost is not a barrier to receiving this important education.”
One example of the program's impact took place at the Parker Hannifin Downtown YMCA, which partnered with the Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative to offer a free eight-week Water Safety Program this spring. The program brought together 24 children and 18 parents and caregivers to learn swimming fundamentals, water safety practices and aquatic survival skills.
Participants learned basic swim strokes, how to respond in emergency situations, and important safety concepts such as never swimming alone and the YMCA's “Reach or Throw, Don't Go” approach to helping someone in trouble in the water. Families also learned how to recognize and respond to hazards such as rip currents and unsafe water conditions.
Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death among children, making access to swim lessons and water safety education more important than ever. Through partnerships, community support and grant funding, the YMCA continues its commitment to helping keep children and families safe around water.
Those interested in supporting the YMCA's drowning prevention efforts may make a charitable contribution through the YMCA of Greater Cleveland.