Drowning is an epidemic that hits low income families and children of color the hardest. The Huron Clinton Metroparks is working to raise $200,000 this year to expand swim instruction, reach more communities, and save more lives through its Everyone in the Pool https://www.metroparks.com/everyone-in-the-pool/ initiative.
Over the past four years, Metroparks and its partners have provided free water safety and swim lessons to more than 7,000 students. However, many people in the region still lack access to lessons. That’s why Metroparks has the goal of raising $200,000 in 2025 to expand swim instruction, reach more communities and save more lives.
The $200,000 goal will help fund the expansion of the program to underserved areas, allowing the Metroparks to serve more students who need these vital skills. Each swim lesson currently costs an average of $150 per student, and adding a new partner site for one season of lessons costs on average of $20,000. By becoming a funding sponsor, community members, businesses and organizations can make a lasting and meaningful impact on water safety education in Southeast Michigan.
Sponsors can participate at three funding levels that each come with their own benefits: Swim Buddy Sponsor at $150; Big Splash Sponsor at $7,500; and Water Safety Hero at $20,000. At the Swim Buddy level, sponsors can fund as many students as they want, from as few as just one.
Every dollar makes a difference. Those that are interested can make a sponsorship contribution directly on the Metroparks website at: https://www.metroparks.com/everyone-in-the-pool/ initiative.
“Too many lives have been lost simply because someone didn’t have access to lessons. We’re working with partners to change that, and we’re inviting the community to help us do it,” Amy McMillan, CEO of Huron-Clinton Metroparks. “Sponsoring a swim lesson or partner location is one of the most direct, powerful investments you can make in a person’s safety and future. It’s not just about learning how to float or swim laps, it’s about saving lives, breaking generational cycles of fear around water and opening doors to lifelong joy and confidence.
The Metroparks has set an ambitious goal to support free water safety and swim lessons for 6,000 students annually. Achieving that goal will require a significant investment to support the hiring and training of more lifeguards and instructors and the addition of more community partners and swim lesson locations in addition to funding the lessons themselves.
In addition to budgeted dollars from the Metroparks, the Metroparks successfully secured grants from several sources to support the expansion and carry it into 2025. The CDC Foundation provided the Metroparks with up to $50,039 in grant funding to expand in-school swim lessons, including partnerships at DPSCD, South Lake High School, and Centerline Public Schools. Additionally, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan committed $77,320 to expand Everyone in the Pool to help increase adult lessons, lifeguard trainings, and water safety instructor trainings with the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit and Dearborn Heights School District #7. Metroparks continues to look creatively at partnerships, sponsorships and funding to find ways to grow and expand impacts in 2025 and beyond – including this new push for sponsors.
“The Everyone in the Pool program aligns with our vision of a southeast Michigan where everyone thrives,” said Greg Yankee, associate vice president of Program at the Community Foundation. “It removes financial barriers to water safety and swim education courses, while increasing opportunities for lifeguard certification training. Thanks to the Huron-Clinton Metroparks and its partners, more children and adults in our region have the life-saving skills they need to stay safe in the water.”
Programs under the “Everyone in the Pool” initiative include in-school lessons during gym classes, after-school and adult classes at local high schools and YMCAs, summer swim lessons and a pilot lifeguard training program aimed at addressing staffing shortages and supporting the long-term sustainability of community swim programs.
If you are interested in becoming an “Everyone in the Pool” sponsor and helping the Huron-Clinton Metroparks reach its $200,000 goal to expand access to critical, life-saving swim skills, visit www.metroparks.com/everyone-in-the-pool/.
