In our second decade of operations, SwimRVA is 5x the size of the original vision for the organization, serving six jurisdictions and inspiring water safety, aquatic fitness, and facility excellence nationally from our home in Richmond, VA. This impact was made possible by YOU – our steadfast supporters. You inspire and enable us to build our programs and outreach to realize the full potential of our mission.
During the 2024 fiscal year, we aimed to save lives, build tomorrow’s workforce, inspire healthy communities, and transform the region through aquatics. By the numbers, we saw:
SAVING LIVES
- 2,572 Learn-To-Swim second graders provided free swim lessons, reaching 29 schools across five jurisdictions including the City of Richmond
- 711 youth enrolled in cost-free or financially supported swim enrichment programming
- 1,328 Swim School youth students across four sites
- 274 Swim School adult learners across four sites
- 34 SwimRVA Autism swims participants
“Because of SwimRVA’s herculean efforts, our second graders now have the opportunity to learn an essential life skill. Most of our youth would not otherwise have access to swim lessons, increasing their risk of drowning and excluding them from the opportunity to partake in a lifelong exercise option. The instructors and lifeguards are well trained and effective with the youth who eagerly look forward to swim days. The professionalism and the success of the program is almost as remarkable as the sound of the laughter coming from the pool and the realization that without this program, most of these youth might not ever have the chance to learn to swim.” Henning Elementary School Assistant Principal
“We see incredible progress in these seven weeks. The best part is the excitement these students have when they pass a station. They are learning positive success habits in every lesson.” Dr. Debbie Kelo, SwimRVA Director of Programs
Read more: Letters From Learn-To-Swim
BUILDING TOMORROW’S WORKFORCE
- 360 professional rescuers certified
- 119 lifeguard instructors trained
- 8 high schools in SwimRVA’s groundbreaking cost-free, workforce development program including four new RPS schools
- 118 students in cost-free workforce development programming
“Our goal in RPS Athletics is to create as many opportunities as possible to enhance our student’s experiences and learning in every capacity. Being a part of a team significantly empowers our student athletes by fostering personal growth and developing valuable life skills like teamwork, leadership, and resilience. All which can positively impact academic performance and their social well-being…Thank you for allowing us to dream big and take our kids with us.” Dr. Stefanie Ramsey, Richmond Public Schools Coordinator of Athletics & Events
“I am grateful for the opportunities. It has been a wild experience, doing things I never thought possible, like being a life safety officer for the DownRiver Rip event on the James River.” Raymond Valdez, SwimRVA Life Safety Coordinator
INSPIRING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
- 41,104 Wellness visits
- 155 Hammerheads, our adult team-based fitness swimmers
- 781 unique campers across three sites
- 905 SwimRVA Rapids competitive athletes: swimming, water polo, artistic swimming
“I guess you could say I started off swimming for my husband. But now I swim for him, my health, and all the joy we get from the fabulous people we get to interact with each time we jump in the pool at SwimRVA!” Lauren Swedenborg, a SwimRVA wellness member who enjoys aquatics classes with her husband, Jay, who has Multiple Sclerosis and has seen great health improvements from aquatic exercise
Read more: Rapids Championship Wrap-Up: Artistic Swimming, Water Polo, Swim Team
Read more: How Wellness Member Michael Hall Manages Diabetes Diagnosis with SwimRVA
TRANSFORMING THE REGION
- 4 pools owned and/ or operated by SwimRVA: SwimRVA-Church Hill, SwimRVA-North, SwimRVA-CSAC, SwimRVA-Meadowbrook
- $7M sports tourism impact from athlete attendees
- 113 days of competition
- 495 individual donors to SwimRVA
- $1.1M raised to support our Drownproof Richmond programming
- $58,672 financial aid awarded to make participation in all fee-for-service programs accessible
“We have witnessed unbelievable investment in aquatics in our region over the past decade. Public funding for infrastructure, programming and curriculum development has collaborated with private investment and energy to create lasting impact in water safety and equitable opportunity. Together, we are making huge strides toward eradicating unintentional drownings and near drownings by sustaining our pools with qualified staff through innovative school-based work readiness programming like the Lifeguard School. Coupled with growth in varsity athletics and school based learn-to-swim programs at the elementary level, we are creating a continuum of service to Richmonders that is opening doors for a lifetime of opportunity, safety and enjoyment around water for our residents. SwimRVA is passionately charging toward every community in our region having access to pools and programming that forms a continuum of service through partnerships and collaboration that works.” Adam Kennedy, SwimRVA Executive Director
From all of us at SwimRVA, THANK YOU!
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Watch: Thank You From SwimRVA