Swimming is not only a vital life skill that can save your own life, but also the lives of others.
This summer, Community Offshore Wind-- a joint venture between RWE Renewables and National Grid devoted to harvesting wind energy-- is partnering with the YMCA of Long Island and the YMCA of Greater New York to make swimming lessons accessible to 100 children in need of financial assistance.
Participating in formal swim lessons reduces the drowning risk for young children ages 1-4 by 88 percent. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children learn water safety and swimming skills to reduce their risk of drowning and water-related injury.
“Every child should have access to high-quality swim instruction,” said Sharon Greenberger, president & CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York. “Thanks to the generous support of Community Offshore Wind, the YMCA of Greater New York will be able to provide dozens more families across New York City with financial assistance to make swim lessons more affordable.
"As a result of this partnership, their children will develop life-saving swim safety skills, reducing the risk of drowning and increasing their confidence and comfort in
the water
Aside from learning water safety, the joint venture aims to prepare children now for lucrative careers that involve swimming.
“We need to start building a workforce of the future today,” said Doug Perkins, president and project director of Community Offshore Wind. “We are helping to equip younger generations with the right skills and education, so they can access careers in offshore wind. The ability to swim, safely and confidently, is a seemingly obvious, but overlooked barrier to entry."
At the YMCA, no family is ever turned away because of an inability to pay.
Community Offshore Wind’s grant will enable the Y to provide financial assistance to even more families in Brooklyn and across New York City this year. The Y encourages all families in Brooklyn in need of support to apply for financial assistance for swim lessons here: https://ymcanyc.org/join/financial-assistance.
