Courtesy: USA Swimming
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – On Tuesday, USA Swimming and longtime partner Phillips 66 announced the four cities that will comprise this year’s Make a Splash Tour.
The Make a Splash Tour presented by Phillips 66 will visit Houston (May 1-3), Lake Charles, La. (May 4-5), St. Louis and Roxana, Ill. (May 14-16) and Billings, Mont. (May 23-25) to raise awareness around the importance of learning to swim.
The USA Swimming Foundation, the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming, and Phillips 66 have collaborated for years to promote water safety and education. The 15th year of the Make a Splash Tour brings USA Swimming Foundation ambassadors and Olympic medalists Rowdy Gaines, Cullen Jones and Elizabeth Beisel to cities across the country to educate children, parents, communities and civic leaders on the importance of swimming as a lifesaving skill.
“The Make a Splash tour is an important opportunity for us to speak loudly about the criticality of learning how to swim,” USA Swimming President and CEO Tim Hinchey III said. “We appreciate Phillips 66’s continued support of our efforts to bring this vital message to more communities and families across America.”
Drowning claims the lives of approximately 3,500 people per year, with nearly 25 percent being children under the age of 14. The problem is particularly amplified in ethnically diverse communities, where the drowning rate is almost three times the national average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Formal swimming lessons can reduce that risk for children by 88 percent.
“We are proud to work with the USA Swimming Foundation to raise awareness around water safety and teach children to swim,” Phillips 66 Senior Advisor of Social Impact Courtney Meadows said. “Safety is pivotal to Phillips 66’s operations and culture.”
In 2021, the USA Swimming Foundation aligned with U.S. Masters Swimming to create lasting generational impact by bringing support for youth and adult learn-to-swim programs under one umbrella. If a parent doesn’t know how to swim, there is just a 19 percent chance that a child in that household will learn how to swim, according to a 2009 study by Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Further, more than one-third of American adults cannot swim the length of a pool, according to the CDC.
Since 1973, Phillips 66’s contributions have supported the USA Swimming community through National Championships, international competitions, publication of sport development materials, and many additional endeavors. The Make a Splash Tour, which the company has sponsored since the program’s inception in 2009, is a natural extension of Phillips 66’s dedication to safety.
To find a youth or adult swim lesson provider near you or for more information on which programs offer free or reduced-cost swim lessons, visit www.usaswimming.org/makeasplash.
