Feature Story

December 2018

Goldfish Swim School Sponsors USA Swimming Foundation

By Chandler Garland

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 people drown in the United States each day. The most at risk group for drownings are children of low-income families who have little access to formal swimming lessons. Goldfish Swim School Franchising and the USA Swimming Foundation, the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming, hope to change this trend with a new partnership to bring affordable swim lessons to those in need.

Goldfish Swim School provides state-of-the-art aquatic facilities that are dedicated to indoor swim classes and programs for children ages 4 months to 12 years. From Jump Start Clinics to competitive swimming, Goldfish is committed to helping children develop important life skills so they can make waves in the water and in life.

By becoming an official learn-to-swim provider and water safety advocate Goldfish Swim School will support the Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative, a national child-focused water safety campaign that aims to provide the opportunity for every child in America to learn to swim. In addition to providing swimming lessons and educating children and their families on the importance of learning to swim, Goldfish Swim School has set a fundraising goal to raise $1 million by 2024 in an effort to help fund free or reduced-cost swim lessons in communities across the country.

“Since launching Goldfish Swim School more than a decade ago, we’ve worked hard to not only teach kids how to swim, but also promote the importance of water safety to children and their families,” said Jenny McCuiston, co-founder of Goldfish Swim School. “We’re honored to join forces with the USA Swimming Foundation and are confident that through our partnership, we can continue to raise awareness about water safety across the United States and provide kids with the opportunity to build their confidence in the pool while also having fun.”

Goldfish Swim School shared news of the partnership with its 74 franchise locations at the brand’s annual conference in Detroit, alongside Olympic gold medalists and USA Swimming Foundation ambassadors Ryan Murphy and Jason Lezak. Goldfish Swim School Co-Founder Jenny McCuiston also presented the USA Swimming Foundation with a check for $20,000 to jump-start the company’s donation efforts.

“It is our pleasure to welcome Goldfish Swim School to our growing roster of sponsors, as we continue to raise funds to support programs that save lives and build champions,” said Debbie Hesse, executive director of the USA Swimming Foundation. “We’re grateful for their partnership and commitment to support the Foundation and our Make a Splash initiative. We look forward to working together to provide the life-saving gift of swim lessons and improve swimming ability among America’s youth.”