SARASOTA, Fla., Oct. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — 21st Century Swimming Lessons, Inc. of Sarasota Florida, developers of Miracle Swimming: New Lessons for Adults Afraid in Water, has been awarded two grants by national organizations to expand its reach nationally.
The National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) granted $10,000 to "21st" at the Step Into Swim Congress in Norfolk, VA October 10 as part of its national campaign to create one million new swimmers in the United States in the next ten years.
Says Tom Lachocki, CEO of NSPF, "Fear is powerful, but not as powerful as people's will. We are thrilled to help 21st Century Swimming to usher more people past their fear to the joys aquatic activities bring."
At the Step Into Swim Congress, M. Ellen Dash, Executive Director of "21st", a 501c3 non-profit organization, spelled out its work. "There are two kinds of people in the United States: those who are comfortable in deep water and those who are not. Those who are not comfortable don't know something that's known by those who are. That information is taught by Miracle Swimming. It includes fun, how to prevent panic, how to remain in control, to derive one's safety from oneself rather than from the bottom or side of the pool or strokes, how to be vertical in water, and the fact that a correct float need not be horizontal."
The second grant, $3398, was awarded by the Swimming Saves Lives Foundation, part of United States Masters Swimming, to fund trainings for two swim instructors to learn to teach Miracle Swimming. "This grant will be used to provide opportunities for adults to swim," says U.S. Masters Swimming Executive Director Rob Butcher. "It is anticipated that as a result of this award and training of new instructors, several thousand adults will be positively impacted."
According to a 1998 Gallup Poll, 46% of American adults are afraid in deep water in pools: 109 million. "People who can swim are not afraid in deep water. Knowing how to swim means being reliable for one's safety in deep water; then, if desired, one can learn strokes," says Dash.
21st seeks partner organizations to help reduce this 109 million to zero by teaching afraid adults.
Contact:
Melon Dash, Director
21st Century Swimming Lessons, Inc.
941-921-6420
Email
www.conquerfear.com