We are excited to announce that we have been awarded grant funding by the USA Swimming Foundation to not only one but to two Goldfish locations! As part of the 2020 program for their Make a Splash local partners, these grants were awarded to two, more than deserving Goldfish Swim School locations in Dayton and Clarkston, MI to continue to make waves, give back, and save lives. This grant money will be spent on developing programs to provide their local members within their communities with the chance to further their swimming abilities.

The USA Swimming Foundation, backed by a network of 1,000 swim lesson providers across the nation, continues to help spread national awareness of the importance of learning to swim and works with their partners to end drowning altogether. Since 2007, more than 7.5 million children have been served through their initiative, Make a Splash.

Their Make a Splash program can help achieve this by supporting local swim lesson providers with the resources, materials, and grant funding to help allow every child across the nation to learn how to swim. This year, the program has received its largest number of applications to date. With over 270 applications being vetted, Goldfish Swim School was 1 of 60 lucky applicants to be awarded funding.

We’re excited to see our schools’ plans, highlighted as part of the application process, come into fruition and continue our shared mission:

  • Goldfish Swim School of Dayton will provide three-month swim lesson packages to 30 children from local elementary schools: Preschool Promise in Montgomery County and the Dayton Children’s Hospital. In addition to the lessons, children and their families will receive waived membership fees, free family swims, and a Goldfish Swim School swim pack – complete with a waterproof swim bag, a pair of goggles, a towel, and t-shirts.
  • Goldfish Swim School of Clarkston will provide 20 children from nearby elementary schools with swim lessons spread over two months, or the equivalent in Jump Start Clinics, which provide a well-rounded swim lesson curriculum in a shorter period.

“Our mission at Goldfish Swim School is to ensure all kids feel safe and confident in and around the water. This grant propels our efforts, allowing us to provide free swim lessons to children in these communities who may not have the opportunity otherwise,” said Chris McCuiston, co-founder of Goldfish Swim School. “Accidental drowning continues to be the leading cause of death for children under the age of four, and this grant will get us one step closer to our goal of reducing that number and spreading the ever-important message of water safety.” Together with The USA Swimming Foundation, we are honored to help further our commitment to end drowning via fun, engaging, and safe swim lessons.

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