In Washington state, drowning is the second leading cause of death for children under 14. But because of generous donors and dedicated volunteers like Coach Rick Fria, more kids in the Puget Sound area are getting access to life-saving water safety skills.
In addition to coaching youth sports, Coach Rick is also an active Y member, donor, and Tom Taylor Family YMCA advisory council member. He recently saw a need in his granddaughter's second-grade class at Olalla Elementary.
Despite living in a waterfront community, many of the children had never been to the Y or taken swimming lessons. Additionally, the school lacked the funding to provide such opportunities to students. So, Rick took action.
He personally fundraised $3,000 to cover program and transportation costs to bring the entire class to the Y for Safety Around Water lessons. The result was a day of fun, confidence-building, and learning crucial skills the students will carry for life.
One person helping in their community can cause a ripple effect that can improve the entire community. Because of the help from our donors and volunteers, we can turn those ripples into waves.