What Our Waters Reflect

WHAT OUR BY CAMILLE OGDEN MANAGING DIRECTOR HOPE FLOATS FOUNDATION

WATERS REFLECT: A NEED FOR ACCESS & ACTION

A NEED FOR ACCESS

Imagine you are a mother. It’s a warm day and you are sitting poolside as your child splashes in the water with friends. Now imagine that your son, only 10 years old, is nearly 8 times more likely to drown in that pool than the other children. Why? Because access to swimming and water safety has never been, and is not, equal. A NEED FOR ACTION When you feel helpless, get helpful...

For generations, segregation denied black children access to public pools. We feel these waves of inequality today. Statistics reflect how a lack of access to swimming and water safety has impacted black Americans: • Black children ages 10-14 years drown in swimming pools at rates 7.6 times higher than white children (CDC) • Sixty-four percent of black children have few to no swimming skills (CDC) • When parents have little or no swimming ability, their children are unlikely to swim, this affects 78% of black children in America (USA Swimming Foundation)

Drowning doesn’t discriminate. Yet, for too long systemic racism has increased the risk of drowning for people of color. Drowning may not know prejudice, but we do. While we cannot change yesterday, together, we can strive for a better tomorrow through access. Equitable access to swimming lessons, water safety, healthy water activities, and competitive sports for all our children, is the solution to change these statistics and the social norms they manifest.

While racial inequality has denied access to swimming, it is not the only barrier for American children. • Nearly 80% of families with a household income of less than $50,000 have no/low swimming ability. (USA Swimming) • Children who qualify for free and reduced lunch programs are over 60% less likely to swim. (USA Swimming)

Economic instability and low-income status dramatically reduces a child’s opportunity to learn to swim and therefore, increases their risk of drowning. Even though drowning remains the leading cause of accidental death for children under 5, the cost of swim lessons is a luxury-- not a necessity for America’s poor. Especially the 840,000 American children living in poverty with special needs or health disabilities (U.S. Census Bureau).

The socio-economic issues surrounding drowning prevention are complicated and often compounded, yet, we must be aware of the challenges, and their ripple effects, if we are to find lasting solutions. Our waters reflect a need for equal access but they also shimmer with hope in action. Hope, found in mothers like Pastor Michelle Thomas, who in the helplessness of tragedy found the courage to be helpful and hopeful as a way to honor the life of her son, Fitz, who drowned at the age of 16.

Pastor Michelle believes, “Whenever there is bad, good must respond with even better,” so she took action in the name of hope and through a memorial fund named in honor of her son, Fitz Alexander Campbell Thomas. Today, the Fitz Scholars is a vibrant scholarship opportunity offered in partnership with Hope Floats Foundation and the Thomas family. Together, they are offering tuition assistance to young black children living in low-income families serving the same area Fitz grew up in. For Michelle, collaboration with Hope Floats was their way “to give the world hope, not just hope for this family, but hope for the nation” by providing access to swim lessons for every child in need. To Michelle and the Hope Floats community, swimming is not reserved for the few, but a survival skill all children, regardless of class or color, should be afforded.

Yet, there is more to be done. We are all conduits for change. We simply need the courage to act on our convictions like Fitz’s mom, Michelle. The Hope Floats Foundation provides an opportunity to take action. Whether you are a backyard swim school, a corporate franchise, or a person looking to spread a little more hope, Hope Floats can help you take action.

With a network of over 200 swim school providers all across the U.S.,the Hope Floats family is reaching kids who need us most-- children with the highest risk of drowning. Children who face big challenges but still hope to be the first swimmer in their family, dream of becoming an aquatic athlete, or simply want to feel safe in and around the water.

Through partnership and grassroot efforts, the Hope Floats community raises funds to provide tuition assistance to these kids: the hope-ers and the dreamers. With access and action, our waters can reflect the best of all of us...

But we need you to help us reach more. Become a partner or sponsor, today. Together, we can give the life-saving gift of swimming to all children. Learn more at www.hopefloats.foundation