Grant Brings SWAMIs New Gear

Grant Brings SWAMIs Plentiful New Gear

ROSE PARK --- Recently, a $6,500 grant from the Sorenson Legacy Foundation enabled the west side youth swim program, RACE SWAMI, to purchase swim gear for many of it's young members, most of whom receive financial assistance in order to compete for the USA Swiming club.

According to team president Leslie Motley, the grant couldn't have come at a better time. "We are growing so fast and most of our kids who are joining are very new to the sport. They are local kids from the Rose Park and Glendale communities and they receive free or reduced lunch at school," Motley said. "And when they join Race Swami they barely have enough resources to buy the necessary equipment like suits and goggles. This gracious donation helps us help these kids."

The entire $6,500 grant was used to purchase equipment that the club felt was necessary for the success and improvement of their swimmers. "The coaches put a wish list together and we priced it all out and figured out what was most important. It made the decision making pretty easy... and obvious."

Among the equipment Race Swami acquired were two platforms made by a company, Finis, known for designing and producing innovative products geared towards swimming. "We use the platforms in our Steiner West pool in Glendale because it's an old pool with no real shallow end. Only a set of stairs," Motley noted. "The stairs aren't a big enough area to support all our groups that are still learning their water skills, so these platforms are dropped into the three and half foot depth and the kids can sit on them and be comfortable and confident in what becomes a foot or two of water depth. These platforms are amazing."

Besides the Finis platforms, the Race Swami staff also purchased more than 60 pairs of fins (from Speedo), over 60 pairs of goggles, more than 40 sets of snorkels, and a number of bands made from stretch cords that are used for teaching proper stroke technique on land. Most of the gear was purchased from the local swim shop, Aquaholics, who are located in Murray, Utah.

Besides the swim gear, the outreach swim club also acquired two large metal baskets--one for each of their two swim facilities--to keep all the gear safely stored in. "Without the gracious support from Sorenson, this wouldn't have even been possible and many of these kids wouldn't have the gear needed to help them develop their skills," Motley said. "Now they can, and we're all very happy. The kids got so excited when they were able to use all these great tools for swimming. Thank you, Sorensons!"

This story contributed by Beatrice Beemon, noted writer for Rose Park Herald