The fourth annual “Swimming With Inspiration and Motivation” in Greeley at the University of Northern Colorado was a big success! Nearly 40 children from the Greeley Transitional House and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County, some of whom had attended previous years, came to the event. The children were selected based on their family’s socioeconomic background and were given a free introductory 40-minute swim lesson. Though some of the participants were returning from previous years, the majority of the children were taking their first formal swimming lesson! And this year, we were happy to partner with the City of Greeley to make sure that every child who participated in the “SwIM” event got vouchers for free swim lessons throughout the year!
Two-time Olympian and three-time medalist Margaret Hoelzer was the 2019 featured speaker. Hoelzer spoke of the adversity she faced in becoming a champion swimmer and how hard work enabled her to reach the top of the sport and continue to be an inspiration long after her swimming career ended. Hoelzer brought her medals from the 2008 Olympics to show the children.
The cost to put one child into a group swimming lesson in Greeley is about $30. To make a tax-deductible donation that will go directly to keeping these children in lessons until they are fully capable of swimming on their own, please send a check to:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County
PO BOX 812
Greeley, CO 80632
The families attending the event do not pay to participate in this event, so we rely on corporate and public donations to provide the resources needed to run the event. To learn how you can contribute to the Greeley or Tucson swim events, send an email to Dolphins of the Desert co-founder Geoff Glaser.
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.
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- Getting ready for the SwIM event
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- Getting ready for the SwIM event
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- Children listen to Olympian Margaret Hoelzer speak at the 2019 Swimming With Inspiration and Motivation clinic in Greeley, Colorado.
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- Olympian Margaret Hoelzer speaks to participants at the 2019 Swimming With Inspiration and Motivation clinic in Greeley, Colorado.
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- Children hold two of the Olympic medals won by guest speaker Margaret Hoelzer at the 2019 Swimming With Inspiration and Motivation clinic.
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- Children view an Olympic medal won by guest speaker Margaret Hoelzer at the 2019 Swimming With Inspiration and Motivation clinic.
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- Members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team greet participants in the 2019 Swimming With Inspiration and Motivation clinic
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- Members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team greet participants in the 2019 Swimming With Inspiration and Motivation clinic
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.
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- Children take lessons with members of the University of Northern Colorado women’s swim team.