OUR RECIPIENTS (PARTIAL LIST)
Parent of Aleia T.
“I myself do not know how to swim and nearly drowned at the age of 7 during a sleepover at a childhood friend/classmate's apartment playing Marco Polo. I would like my 5-year-old daughter Aleia to learn how to swim because I do not want her to fear being in the water. It would improve her safety skills and increase her confidence while doing water activities and I think it would be an enjoyable activity for her to have in her daytime structure.”
parent of scarlett T.
“It's important for her to learn how to swim and have the ability to save her own life in an event that I am unable to. She loves water but I'm worried because I can't swim so I can't save her if something were to happen.”
Parent of olivia l.
“As parents who do not know how to swim, we often think about how we don’t want Olivia to have the same limitations or fears in the water that we have. It would be a huge accomplishment for Olivia to become the first swimmer in our family. Not only will it equip her with a lifelong skill, but it will unlock a whole new world of adventures for her in the water. This scholarship is of huge importance in allowing for this to happen and empowering her with the belief that she can do it.”
Parent of Nicholas Y.
“It is a big thing for kids to know how to swim. A swim in the pool or in the ocean on a hot summer day can help you feel relaxed and physically fit. The water is a suitable way to be social with friends through activities such as surfing, water skiing or jet skiing. These exciting activities are difficult to enjoy without the knowledge of swimming.”
Parent of Cyrus Y.
“Knowing how to swim not only can save their own lives, but also save our family’s lives. He can also teach his own kids to swim. What a wonderful skill kids should have when they are young.”
Parent of Gianna V.
“This scholarship is important for us because it gives Gianna the opportunity to learn an essential life skill of safety and will allow her to be independent in a different aspect. Also, this allows her to show her creativity and teamwork with other children.”
Parent of Leonardo T.
“The reason why I would love for him to learn how to swim is because he loves to be in the water during the summertime and I would love for him to have fun in a safe way. Another reason for him to learn is because I never had the chance to learn and I also like to be in the water but haven’t had the opportunity to learn.”
Parent of MIA F.
“I almost drowned when I was four years old (this happened the very first time I visited a swimming pool). I have a deep fear of water because of that experience, and I don’t want my daughter to have to fear water as well. I also want her to be safe in and around water.”
Parent of KAYDEN N.
“Growing up without knowing how to swim, I’ve always felt uneasy and scared whenever I took my kids to the beach. I wanted Kayden to have a chance to learn how to swim so that he doesn’t have to go through the same experience as I had.”
Parent of meliyah s.
“As a child, I was not given the opportunity to do many things including swim lessons due to poverty. I will try my best to give that opportunity to my children. I want them to thrive and to be seen as a whole in the world."
Parent of AVERY M.
“I would like my daughter to be able to swim so that she can save herself when she falls into the water. My husband and I do not know how to swim.”
roselyn M.
“I want to learn how to swim because I think it is fun and useful. If I fall into a body of water, I won’t drown because I know how to swim.”
PARENT OF ARIANNA N.
“Arianna is always left out whenever she goes to places that have a swimming pool with her cousins or friends because she doesn't know how to swim. Her grandfather died because he drowned.”
PARENT OF SOPHIE L.
“This scholarship is important for Sophie so she learns water safety and so she can learn good form for swimming. It’s a great form of exercise that she can practice throughout her life!”
PARENT OF alyssa t.
“I want my child to learn to swim because I never got the opportunity to learn. My parents immigrated to the US in the 1980s and went through difficult financial hardships. While my peers learned to swim, I did not get that opportunity because it was not financially accessible to me. I’m now 38 and fearful of being near a pool. I hope this scholarship will allow my child to gain at least the basic skills to floating in water.”
PARENT OF LEONARDO S.
“In a school field trip to a water park in Tlaltenango Zacatecas, Mexico, a little boy drowned when he was pushed in. It was a horrible experience for the whole community. I vowed that I would take my kids to swimming classes.”