Press Release

For more information contact: Shannon Smith, 860-550-4077
Shannon@theswimstrongfoundation.org

Swim Strong Foundation Celebrates Pool Safety Week

Swim Strong is delighted to share that we area recognized partner in the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s“Pool Safely” campaign. So proud of our team member Storm and all of his accomplishments to date! 

July 19^h, 2012, New York, NY— The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces its “Pool Safely” campaign in conjunction with Pool Safety Week.  Swim Strong Foundation is joining efforts to encourage water safety and pool safety locally through its swim programs in Queens and Brooklyn.  http://www.poolsafely.gov/partner-organizations/meet-our-partners/

According to The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s latest findings released earlier this summer, drowning is the #1 cause of death for children 1-4.  It is the 2^Nd leading cause of death in all youth under 14.  Minority children 5-14 are three times more likely to die from drowning than Caucasian children.  Meet Storm http://www.poolsafely.gov/share-your-stories/

Swim Strong Foundation wants to do something about this. For the most part drowning IS preventable. All year long they provide low cost swim programs to NYC youth that teach swimming skills and water safety in an effort to eradicate drowning.  This week, parents have been invited to get in the pool with their children for special, pool safety workshops. 

If you or your child is not currently involved in a swim program, there are still steps they can take to make sure they practice pool safety:

          • Stay within an arm’s reach of your children at all times in and around the pool

            • Never swim without a lifeguard. 

            • Assign a “Water Watcher

           • Never swim alone

            • Take swim lessons at any age before regularly using a pool

            • Learn CPR

            • Don’t mix alcohol with swimming and pools

            • Know the depth of the water and don’t swim in deep water if you’re a beginner

Join the celebration by following these tips during Pool Safety Week and all summer.  If you would like to sign up for swim lessons please contact Shawn Slevin at shawn.slevin@theswimstrongfoundation.org.  Swim Strong and Pool Safely. 

And to promote awareness, I am happy to invite adult family members of CURRENT program members , who do not swim, into the pool with us for a 30 minute Introduction to the water this Saturday at both FMP and FRHS. You will need flip flops/pool shoes/or bare feet, your suit cap and goggles and towel.

At FMP, it will be during the 8-9 time frame. (Remember at FMP that you can’t use the lockers…bring your bag out with you onto the deck) At FRHS, we need to be a bit flexible as it could be somewhere in the 11:30-12:30 timeframe.

Pls do respond to me as to who wants to GET Wet and celebrate Pool Safety Week with us

Coach Shawn

more than just hair

 More Than Just Hair

It is believed that the straighter the hair, the prettier the women.  So, what about the rest of us?  Many African Americans have been trying to adapt the European idea of beauty, rather than establishing their own.  Rejecting and renovating something that needed no correction.  From Madam CJ Walker who invented the hot comb to Garret A. Morgan who invented the hair relaxer, history has continuously supported this unnatural transformation, further deteriorating the beauty of natural hair. 

Today natural hair is shunned upon, and many are faced with professional and personal generalizations because of it.  This fear of possible rejection causes many women to endure extreme measures to keep hair “beautiful and acceptable”.  Even if these decisions keep them from experiencing some of life’s greatest pleasures. Many of these decisions create a barrier in their children’s life, a life that does not include interaction with water.   In a recent survey done by national diversity specialist for USA Swimming, parents were a key influence on their children's swimming habits. These habits are infused by a mix of fear of water and money wasted to maintain the “beautiful and acceptable” hair during and between swim sessions.  If society‘s opinions were put aside and natural hair was embraced, many more African Americans could fully experience the many pleasures that life has to offer that involved water. But instead this fear of the water is passed from one generation to another.  At least 65% of parents with non-swimming children couldn't swim themselves. Proving that this connotation placed on natural hair is putting children and adults at high risk.

So, where should the line be drawn?  Is being seen as “beautiful and acceptable” at all times more important than you and your child’s well being. I believe not.   No barrier, biases, or challenges should be great enough to prevent anyone from enjoying the life saving and changing benefits of swimming. Embracing our own definition of beauty, would open a world of unseen opportunities for many African Americans. Breaking down cultural barriers could be as simple as wearing an alternate hairdo during the summer.  The stylists I spoke provide a few recommendations to keep hair healthy and manageable while enjoying the water:

·         Wear hair Natural or Braided

·         Wear swimming cap

·          Moisturize hair before and after swimming

·         Limit use of Heat

At Swim Strong Foundation our goal is for EVERYONE to learn how to swim.   We are bringing down the barriers of access, price and cultural challenges. Isn’t it time for YOU to get wet and learn to SWIM STRONG?!?

The Swim Strong Mission:

Saving & Changing Lives

Eat Right? Eat Light?

Eating Right? Eating Light?

Summer time is here and temptation is near.  From constant cookout concoctions or the heightened convenience of fast food, we are all faced with the decision of Eating light or Eating Right?  Many have trouble understanding that the key to a healthy summer is finding a reasonable balance between the two. 

You do not want to get stuck in a routine that limits your summer from being enjoyable and exciting, but you also need to avoid a summer filled with instinct driven indulgences that leaves you with the after taste of guilt.

A healthy and realistic initiative to apply to your summer lifestyle is retain as much nutrients as possible while taking in the smallest amount amount of calories along the way.  This may sound more complicated than it truly is, but it can be simply achieved.  Instilling the discipline of eating well balanced and properly proportioned meals can take you a long way.  It may sound elementary, but having and maintaining the proper amounts of meats, fruits, vegetables, whole gains, and dairy products will help lead to a virtually stress free summer.

            Summer Simplicity:

·         Listen to your body. Do not over Eat.

·         Embrace Grilled and Baked foods

·         Indulge in fresh Fruits and Vegetables

·         Quantity & Quality are equally important. Eat smaller portions, more frequently, and well balanced meals  

·         Stay away from added Sugar

·         Drink water before and after meals

·         Seeds, Beans and Nuts are a good thing.

The most important thing to remember is that food is here for you to enjoy, but understand the difference from enjoying and over indulging.  Too much of anything in life, is never a good thing, food is no exception. 

  

Any questions, Please contact me at Mariah.Williams09@stjohns.edu

Swim Strong Foundation Partners with Make a Splash

For More Information Contact:

Shannon Smith: 860-550-4077

Shannon@theswimstrongfoundation.org

For Immediate Release

Swim Strong Foundation “Makes a Splash” for Water Safety

Swim Strong Named Local Partner for USA Swimming’s water safety initiative

May 21^th 2012, New York, NY—Swim Strong Foundation is proud to announce its participation in USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative.  As a partner in the New York City area Swim Strong Foundation is able to increase the reach and impact of its water safety programs and further its mission of saving and changing lives through swimming. 

Make a Splash helps local learn-to-swim organizations, like the Swim Strong Foundation by providing campaigns to the local area that increase awareness about water safety and the need to learn to swim. 

They also help local partners raise money for scholarship funds to provide life saving and changing swim lessons to those could not otherwise afford them.  Currently Swim Strong Foundation is hoping to raise enough money to give 40 children free swim lessons this summer.   This partnership will help make that possible for New York City youth.

“Partnering with Make A Splash is a great way of raising awareness and educating more people about the importance of water safety and learning how to swim,” says Shawn Slevin, founder of Swim Strong Foundation.

Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death in children under 14.  According to the Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine journal participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent among children aged one to four years.

If you are interested in learning more about water safety, Swim Strong Foundation’s efforts or enrolling in one of Swim Strong Foundation’s programs visit http://www.theswimstrongfoundation.org/ or e-mail Shawn Slevin at Shawn.Slevin@theswimstrongfoundation.org.

###

About Swim Strong Foundation:

Swim Strong Foundation is a non-profit, volunteer run organization that saves and changes lives through swimming. Lives are saved by offering affordable swim programs from the most beginning levels through competitive. We are stopping the drowning. Lives are changed educating families about the importance of nutrition and exercise, challenging children to learn the life lessons of commitment, goal setting self-discipline, persistency, team work and resiliency through competitive swimming, and inspiring strong swimmers to explore other water based sports, some of which offer college scholarships.

About Make a Splash:

Make a Splash is the national, child-focused water safety initiative of the USA Swimming Foundation. Launched in 2007, Make a Splash partners with learn-to-swim providers across the country in an effort to provide the opportunity for every child in America to learn to swim.

Take Advantage of Some Great Opportunities!

Absolutely share these opportunities with colleagues, family and friends!

Modells, a sponsor of Swim Strong Foundation, has extended their 15% off coupon for us through May 31st.  This ecoupon can be downloaded and printed to be used in any Modells in NYC. 

For you on line shoppers, you can get great deals through www.IGive.com 

Here’s how it works:

1) Charitably-minded individuals join iGive.com (It's free! Always!)

2) iGive members select a worthy cause like Swim Strong Foundation to support.

3) iGive members shop online through iGive.com. Over 680 brand-name online stores participate, with more added every week.

4) Up to 26% of each purchase is donated to the member's designated cause!

Finally, if  by May 31^st you would nominate Shawn Slevin as a local Lady Godiva, Swim Strong Foundation could be eligible for a $1,000 – 10,000 prize for our scholarship fund

   http://ladygodivaprogram.com/nominees/submit

This synopsis of her community work may help you:

Shawn Slevin has been a volunteer swim coach in NYC for over 40 years and helped more than 8,000 children learn to become competitive swimmers. As a result, more than five dozen  received college scholarships for swimming; thousands swam for their high school or US swim clubs; hundreds became certified life guards…all able to enjoy swimming as a life sport to keep them mentally and physically fit.  She started Swim Strong Foundation seven years ago to bring affordable swim programs to more communities…particularly where children don’t traditionally swim.  The life skills learned through swimming  at the competitive level, transcend the pool and are used in the classroom through the board room. 

Drowning is the second largest cause of death globally!!  Drowning is the second largest cause of death for children here in the US ages 14 and younger.  Children of color are drowning 3x more than Caucasian children.  Drowning, for the most part, IS preventable!  Swimming is the most cardio/pulmonary and skeletal friendly sport there is. It is the only womb to tomb exercise.   At Swim Strong we are encouraging people of all ages to Swim for their Lives!

Summer is around the corner…get your Swim Strong on now!

Water & Safety Classes

For More Information Contact:

Shannon Smith, 860-550-4077

Shannon@theswimstrongfoundation.org

The Perfect Way to Prepare for Summer: Free Water Safety and Swimming Classes

April 20^th, 2012, Queens, NY—The Swim Strong Foundation, in partnership National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy and National Park Service are delighted to offer free Introduction to Water Safety and Swimming classes for New York City Youth ages 12-17.  Classes will be held Saturday mornings or Wednesday nights throughout May and June at Far Rockaway High School in Queens.  The classes were developed in hopes that New York City youth will learn the skills needed to get out and safely enjoy all the opportunities offered by our national parks with summer. 

Saturday classes will be held May 5^th- June 30^th from 11:30 a.m. until 12 p.m.  Wednesday classes will be held May 2^nd until June 27^th from 7-7:30 p.m. 

“We're thrilled to be able to offer this program with the National Park Service and Swim Strong, and thankful for the support from the National Recreation Foundation. It's so crucial to teach kids water safety and make sure they have swimming skills, especially here in the Rockaways where there are so many great opportunities for water-based sports and recreation,” offers the  National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy (Harbor Conservancy). 

Our national parks offer a broad range of opportunities for water sports, including swimming and kayaking. 

These classes and all Swim Strong programs at Far Rockaway High School would not be possible without the ongoing support of Council Member James Sanders

There is a limit of 25 students per class so register your swimmer now.   E-mail Shawn Slevin  at Shawn.Slevin@theswimstrongfounation.org to register or visit http://www.theswimstrongfoundation.org for more information. 

About Swim Strong Foundation:

Swim Strong Foundation is a non-profit, volunteer run organization that saves and changes lives through swimming. Lives are saved by offering affordable swim programs from the most beginning levels through competitive. We are stopping the drowning. Lives are changed educating families about the importance of nutrition and exercise, challenging children to learn the life lessons of commitment, goal setting self-discipline, persistency, team work and resiliency through competitive swimming, and inspiring strong swimmers to explore other water based sports, some of which offer college scholarships.

About National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy:

The National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy is the primary private partner of the National Parks of New York Harbor [NPNH], sanctioned under a U.S. Department of the Interior General Agreement*. We are charged with providing both philanthropic and earned revenue support to meet the future stewardship needs of NPNH. Our mission is to create for the people an unrivaled vehicle to preserve the environment, promote economic development and create on New York Harbor the finest urban waterfront recreation and educational national park system in the world.

About National Park Service:

Since 1916, the American people have entrusted the National Park Service with the care of their national parks. With the help of volunteers and park partners, we are proud to safeguard these nearly 400 places and to share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn't stop there. We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.