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Seattle Parks and Recreation is accepting donations large and small for the Learn to Swim Scholarship Fund.
This year, Parks has been especially challenged by the depletion in the scholarship budget caused by City budget reductions. Through September 2011, Parks has provided half-price swim lessons to 1,900 children, a value of more than $60,000. Of these kids, 978 qualified under federal guidelines for a higher level of scholarship, which used all of the $19,000 available in special funding.
"Providing swimming lessons for children is our highest priority," said Parks Aquatics Manager Kathy Whitman. "We have reduced our fees by 50 percent for those who qualify. We want to provide affordable swim lessons for all children, especially those who meet low-income guidelines, but even 50 percent of the fee is still too expensive for many families."
Between 2005 and 2009, 129 King County residents drowned. Of them, 18 were children ages 17 and younger. Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Children's Hospital and Public Health – Seattle & King County believe swimming lessons are part of the solution to reduce drownings. Seattle Children's has contributed supplemental funds to the Learn to Swim Scholarship Fund.
If you would like to contribute to the fund, donate on site at your local swimming pool or online at the Associated Recreation Council's website at www.arcseattle.org/donate.cfm. As a guideline, a donation of $260 would provide scholarship funding for 10 children.
