The company’s Essential Foundation awarded $75,000 in grants through its “Sure Splash” program to fund swim lessons and other water safety programs this summer.
Essential Utilities, Inc. is helping more families feel safe and sure while they enjoy the water this summer through a $75,000 investment in community-based water safety programs. The donations were made through the company’s Essential Foundation and its expanded Sure Splash initiative.
Essential Utilities, which provides drinking water and wastewater service under the Aqua brand, knows the importance of safety in and around water. We also know that water can be a lot of fun. Whether you beat the heat at community pools and beaches or enjoy fishing or boating on our rivers and bays, Essential urges everyone to make safety a top priority.
An unfortunate reality, drowning is one of the leading preventable causes of death for children in the U.S., and more than a third of adults cannot swim one pool length, according to the USA Swimming Foundation. Thankfully, many nonprofit organizations are tackling these issues head-on, offering swim lessons and other water safety programs to help prevent drownings. Essential’s Sure Splash initiative is proud to partner with these six non-profit groups:
Horizons at Episcopal Academy, stresses that swimming is not just a life-saving skill, but a confidence-building one for their Philadelphia-area students. Horizons is an award-winning, tuition-free academic and enrichment program serving students facing systematic inequities in education. Through Horizons’ Swim Instruction Program, students build trust and self-esteem, qualities that positively influence their classroom experience.
“Essential’s commitment to our swim program is making a positive impact on our students' lives,” said Horizons Executive Director Ryan Learn. “Through this sponsorship, we can ensure that our program continues to thrive, fostering our students’ growth and enthusiasm for swimming."
Nile Swim Club of Yeadon, is using its Sure Splash grant for the aptly titled program, No Child Will Drown in Our Town ®. The Nile is the nation’s first black-owned swim club and recipient of the first Pennsylvania historical marker in Yeadon, Delaware County. Instructors provide lessons to more than 1,000 children and teenagers each year. In addition to funding the program as a whole, Essential also donated to fund a program for Yeadon’s Bell Avenue Elementary School to ensure all students learned water safety before summer break began.
Kaiserman Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania is a swimming destination in Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties. The JCC’s outdoor pool serves hundreds of families every summer, and their programs are open to all. Camp Kef, a summer camp, offers swimming lessons to more than 500 children each year. Whenever possible, the JCC works to subsidize the costs of its programs for families needing assistance. With Essential’s support, the JCC estimates they will be able to offer water safety and swimming instruction to an additional 100 children this year.
The Hamilton Area YMCA is putting its Sure Splash funding to work providing free life-saving swim lessons and summer camp for children in underserved communities. The “Y” believes one of the most effective ways to nurture skills and build confidence is to teach young children and teenagers to swim.
“Swimming is a life-saving skill,” said Aqua New Jersey President Natalie Chesko. “We are honored to help fund this critical program to give swim lessons to children in the community we love to serve. It’s a great way for the kids to learn a skill that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. On top of it all, they are having fun.”
The YMCA of Greater Brandywine is utilizing its grant funding at their Berwyn (Upper Main Line) and West Chester, Pennsylvania locations. The “Y’s” all-ages program provides accessible, basic instruction designed to build a foundation for lifelong swimming skills and instill confidence in and around water. Upper Main Line YMCA and West Chester Area YMCA help connect underserved members of the community to get more individuals the swim lessons they need. The program is offered at no cost thanks, in part, to Essential’s support.
The American Red Cross trains people of all ages in water safety and swimming knowledge and skills. Through its Training Services operations, the Red Cross provides health and safety courses, such as CPR, first aid, lifeguard training, and swimming lessons in partnership with thousands of licensed training provider facilities. This education and skill building creates a framework for safety and drowning prevention. Funding from Essential’s Sure Splash initiative is helping the Red Cross build confidence in water, for life, across Essential’s 9-state footprint.
“Water competency is a skill that everyone, regardless of age, background or income, should develop,” said Jennifer Graham, CEO, American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region. “Our aquatics programs empower children, teens, adults and families with the confidence to enjoy water safely. We’re grateful for Aqua’s support, which will help ensure our communities can continue to access and develop these lifesaving skills.”