MCAT Swim America Lessons receive National Grant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 31, 2011
Contact: Dia C. Rianda- Monterey County Aquatic Team-Salinas Valley Aquatics Inc.
Monterey County Aquatic Team/Salinas Valley Aquatics Inc.
Receives a USA Swimming Foundation Grant to Aid Learn-to-Swim Efforts in Salinas
Monterey County Aquatic Team Swim America Learn to Swim Program is a Make a Splash Local Partner
Salinas Aquatic Center – Monterey County Aquatic Team/Salinas Valley Aquatics Inc. was awarded a $5,000.00 grant from The USA Swimming Foundation to support its learn-to-swim programming.
The USA Swimming Foundation distributed $249,000 in grants this year as part of its on-going mission to save lives and build champions. A total of 37 Foundation grants were distributed in 19 states to help fund Make a Splash Local Partners and their learn-to-swim programs.
Dia C. Rianda- Head Coach and Aquatics Director of MCAT/SVA Inc. said, “We are so excited and proud to have been recognized by the USA Swimming Foundation/ Make A Splash Program. This money will help us to continue to make a difference in the lives of children in our community. No child should drown because they didn’t have the opportunity to learn a necessary life skill. We hope that we will continue to receive generous donations and support for our programming at the Salinas Aquatic Center. We are doing our level best to keep the pool open to the community and to provide opportunities for our youth and AT RISK youth. Our mission is to save lives by offering healthy opportunities. I am so proud of our professional staff at the Salinas Aquatic Center. It is because of their attention to quality and their commitment to saving lives that we received this honor.”
A stated goal and vision of the MCAT non-profit organization is to save lives through swimming. The second leading cause of accidental death in children in the US is accidental drowning. The objective is to provide water safety lessons to every child in Salinas before the 4th grade. MCAT wants to educate every child in what to do in a water related emergency and teach them basic swimming survival skills. The other way swimming saves lives is to encourage our young to participate in a healthy sport activity as an alternative to gangs and as a way to stay physically healthy. MCAT was recognized with a grant to help offset the cost of offering their reduced cost lessons to school children. They have had several school districts transport kids to the pool for the organized class lessons. So far, several thousand kids have participated in the “School Water Safety Program” The USA Swimming Foundation and others have generously donated free swim suits to those who could not afford them.
This year, the Foundation saw over 130 applications in their grant program. The scores and rankings determined by the review committee were higher than ever before for the programs receiving the grants.
To date, more than a half-million swim lessons have been given through the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative. Make a Splash was created in 2007 in response to the fact that drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death for youth in America. It’s a national child-focused water safety campaign that aims to provide the opportunity for every child in the nation to learn to swim.
In 2009, the USA Swimming Foundation launched the Make a Splash with Cullen Jones Event Series. Sponsored by ConocoPhillips, the multi-city tour provides a venue for Olympic gold-medalist Cullen Jones (New Brunswick, N.J.) to speak to thousands of school children about the importance of learning to swim, and in select cities, offer these very children a free swimming lesson.
Make a Splash works by educating parents through a national awareness campaign, and by providing opportunities for kids to learn to swim through its growing network of providers. Currently there are 374 local partner programs in 43 states, with applications pending daily. Local Partners include a variety of organizations, including YMCAs, Boys & Girls’ Clubs, community centers and privately-owned swim schools. To qualify as a local partner, the organizations must offer a percentage of their lessons for low or no cost, or provide water safety education to their community at no charge.
For more information on Make a Splash and to how to find a local partner program or to sponsor a swim lesson, visit www.makeasplash.org. You may also contact MCAT/SVA Inc. at www.mcatsva.org.
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. Whether we’re equipping our children with the life-saving skill of learn-to-swim, 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. The Foundation also serves as the home for our National and Olympic Team Alumni reunions and regional events. The development efforts of the USA Swimming Foundation aim to establish an endowment to strengthen the future of USA Swimming’s programs and services. To learn more, visit www.swimfoundation.org
