Donation will enable Y to offer a minimum of 1,200 South Florida youth free swim lessons
The YMCA of South Florida received a grant for $150,000 from POOLCORP during an event at the Greater Hollywood YMCA Family Center pool. Among the dignitaries in attendance for this announcement was YMCA of South Florida President & CEO Sheryl A. Woods, COO Tara Montenaro, POOLCORP Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer Jennifer M. Neil, POOLCORP Corporate Finance Manager Christy Bloom, Vice-Chairman of POOLCORP’s Board of Directors Manuel Perez de la Mesa, Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy as well as five Hollywood City Commissioners.
POOLCORP, the leading global wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies and outdoor living products, is built on the belief that everyone should know how to swim. Since 2021, its SWIMPACT Program has provided more than $4 million in water safety funding – enabling more than 42,000 children to learn to swim, and training more than 3,000 lifeguards.
This grant will allow the YMCA of South Florida to provide at least 1,200 kids in South Florida free swim lessons, in addition to the 25,000 that it already offers annually. Swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88% in 1–4-year-olds, emphasizing the importance of this life-changing skill.
In 2023, Florida led the nation with 97 reported fatal drownings. For every fatal drowning, seven more nonfatal drownings require hospitalization and medical support, often leaving long-term impacts on victims.
“Great partners are the key to making community-based programs available to all,” said YMCA of South Florida President & CEO Sheryl A. Woods. “This generous grant from POOLCORP will help us achieve our goal of teaching as many kids to swim as possible. This also supports our mission that the YMCA does not turn anyone away for the inability to pay, especially when it comes to a life-changing skill such as swim lessons. POOLCORP shares many of our values and objectives when it comes to water safety and drowning prevention, and together, this grant will enable us to make a lasting impact in South Florida.”
“This year, we are thrilled to add the YMCA of South Florida to our growing list of participating YMCAs within the SWIMPACT! program,” said Jenn Neil, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of POOLCORP. “As a company, we are committed to supporting future swimmers in communities across the country, and the YMCA of South Florida is the perfect partner to fulfill our joint mission to ensure all children are given an opportunity to learn how to swim,” Neil added.
For more information on all of the YMCA of South Florida’s aquatics programs, please visit ymcasouthflorida.org/aquatics.
About POOLCORP
POOLCORP is the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and related backyard products. POOLCORP operates approximately 440 sales centers in North America, Europe and Australia, through which it distributes more than 200,000 products to roughly 125,000 wholesale customers. For more information, please visit www.poolcorp.com
About the YMCA of South Florida
For more than a century, the YMCA has been woven into the fabric of the South Florida community. As an award-winning nonprofit, the Y is committed to strengthening community through more than 200 programs serving everyone from six months old to 100 years young. Our Family Centers and programs are inclusive, vibrant hubs of community life, offering a diverse array of classes, cutting-edge fitness facilities, life-saving aquatics, exciting community events, unforgettable camps, supportive afterschool care, and holistic health and wellness programming. At the Y, there’s something for everyone. Join the movement by connecting with us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or YMCASouthFlorida.org.
