The USA Swimming Foundation, in partnership with The Redwoods Group Foundation, has launched a research study to assess and communicate the academic and developmental benefits that come from learning to swim.
“This partnership and research study with The Redwoods Group Foundation is extremely important as we look to analyze the benefits of learning to swim and the impact it can make on a child’s life,” says USA Swimming Foundation Executive Director Debbie Hesse. “The USA Swimming Foundation’s mission is to save lives and build champions in the pool and in life and we’re excited to examine the relationship between learning to swim and achievement in life.”
In addition to the research study, The Redwoods Group Foundation has joined the USA Swimming Foundation Affiliate Coalition as a partner for sharing the common goal of promoting the importance of learn-to-swim and water safety to children across America.
“We know that learning to swim can save a child’s life, and we’re excited to analyze the ways it can help children thrive outside of the water as well,” says Dan Baum, Executive Director of The Redwoods Group Foundation. “Our partnership with the USA Swimming Foundation will help us leverage this study to move closer toward our shared goal of ensuring that every child has access to the potentially life-saving and life-changing skill of learning to swim.”
As an Affiliate partner, The Redwoods Group Foundation will work to promote the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash Local Partner Program to the YMCA learn-to-swim programs participating in the assessment process for the research study. The Redwoods Group Foundation will also promote Make a Splash, the Local Partner Program, and Affiliate Coalition to its constituents and partners.
Sobering Drowning Statistics
Approximately 10 people drown every day in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and more than one in five fatal drowning victims are children younger than 14. Drowning is also a silent killer—most young children who drowned in pools were last seen in the home, had been out of sight less than five minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at the time, according to the Present P. Child Drowning study.
Furthermore, 60-70 percent of African-American and Hispanic/Latino children cannot swim, and only 13 percent of kids who come from a non-swimming household will ever learn to swim, according to a national research study by the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis. African-American children drown at a rate nearly three times higher than their Caucasian peers, the CDC reports.
About the USA Swimming Foundation
The USA Swimming Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming. Established in 2004, the Foundation works to strengthen the sport by saving lives and building champions— in the pool and in life. Whether we’re equipping our children with the life-saving skill of learn-to-swim through our Make a Splash initiative, or providing financial support to our heroes on the U.S. National Team, the USA Swimming Foundation aims to provide the wonderful experience of swimming to kids at all levels across the country. To learn more, visit www.usaswimmingfoundation.org.
About the Redwoods Group Foundation
The Redwoods Group Foundation is the non-profit arm of The Redwoods Group, a mission driven insurance provider that helps child-serving non-profits keep kids safe. The Foundation uses The Redwoods Group’s data and expertise to identify programs that can change the world and then provides support to help them reach more people than ever before. It currently focuses on child sexual abuse prevention, drowning prevention and building the field of social entrepreneurship.
Swimming News courtesy of the USA Swimming Foundation.
