Drowning is the second-largest cause of death in children under 12.
The number of people who die from drowning each day in the United States is in the double digits.
Children from underserved families are at the greatest risk of drowning, due to lack of resources to pay for structured swimming lessons.
Dolphins of the Desert Swimming Academy believes that everyone needs to learn to swim, regardless of any obstacles. DDSA co-founders Jeff Commings and Geoff Glaser are hosting “Swimming With Inspiration and Motivation” on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. The event features children from the Greeley Transitional House, which helps families find stability after the loss of a job or other financial setbacks, and other organizations in the area that help low-income families. The highlights of the day are an inspirational talk by an elite Olympic athlete, and an introductory 30-minute lesson for the children. For some, it is 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 serve as teachers in the water.
Click here to learn more and see photos from the 2016 SwIM event in Greeley!
Click here to learn more and see photos from the 2017 SwIM event in Greeley!
Click here to learn more and see photos from the 2018 SwIM event in Greeley!
Click here to learn more and see photos from the 2019 SwIM event in Greeley!
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, and you can help to make it happen. To learn how you can contribute to the Greeley SwIM event, send an email to Geoff Glaser.