On October 1, 2016, DDSA co-founders Jeff Commings and Geoff Glaser debuted “Swimming With Inspiration and Motivation” on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. The event featured 26 children from the Greeley Transitional House, which helps families find stability after the loss of a job or other financial setbacks. The highlight of the day was an introductory 30-minute lesson for the children. For some, it was their first formal swimming lesson, and hopefully the start of a lifelong love of the sport. The members of the UNC women’s swim team served as teachers in the water. A3 Performance donated swimsuits and goggles for every child to use during the lesson!
Olympic gold medalist Darian Townsend was the event’s featured speaker and served as the “Inspiration” for the children. Participants watched videos of Townsend’s swimming accomplishments, saw him demonstrate all four swimming strokes and got a glimpse of his Olympic gold medal! Also in attendance was Olympic gold medalist B.J. Bedford, who also helped teach during the swim lesson!
Though our chief goal was to make these children safe in the water, we wanted them to find the “Motivation” within themselves to reach their fullest potential in all aspects of their lives. With the understanding that athletes such as Townsend had to work hard to accomplish their life goals, the children set out to do their best in the swimming lesson, which we believe will translate to their aspirations outside the pool.
The swim lesson on October 1 was just the beginning. Greeley Transitional House and Dolphins of the Desert are working to raise money that will pay for more swimming lessons for the children. The promise we made to them is that we would work hard to make them water safe, and we need your help to keep that promise.
The cost to put one child into a group swimming lesson in Greeley is about $30. To make a tax-deductible donation, please send a check to:
Greeley Transitional House, Attn: Jodi Hartmann
1206 10th Street
Greeley, CO 80631
Dolphins of the Desert Swimming Academy is now a Local Partner with the USA Swimming Foundation! The USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative is a national child-focused water safety campaign, which aims to provide the opportunity for every child in America to learn to swim. Through Make a Splash, the USA Swimming Foundation partners with learn-to-swim providers and water safety advocates across the country to provide swimming lessons and educate children and their families on the importance of learning how to swim. The USA Swimming Foundation has invested millions of dollars to provide grants to qualified Local Partner learn-to-swim programs, to spread national awareness, and to bring together strategic partners to end drowning. To date, more than 5 million children have received the lifesaving gift of swim lessons through the USA Swimming Foundation Make a Splash Local Partner network, comprised of more than 850 qualified lesson providers across the nation. To learn more, visit www.usaswimmingfoundation.org.
We are looking to make this an annual event in Greeley. We are also planning to host a similar event in Tucson, Arizona, and you can help to make it happen. To learn how you can contribute to the Greeley or Tucson swim events, send an email to Geoff Glaser.