RTG Medical and the Fremont Family YMCA are celebrating the completion of its first educational youth swimming program, SwimMates. As part of RTG’s 2018 Community Partnership Program with the Fremont Family YMCA, SwimMates teaches first graders throughout the Fremont community basic swimming skills.
In its first year, nearly 400 first-grade students graduated from the program. SwimMates was hosted in the Fremont Family YMCA’s brand new Olympic-size aquatic center.
“I really liked when they taught us how to float and when we jumped in the water to hold our breath,” one SwimMates first-grader shared.
According to research from the YMCA of the USA, on average two children die each day as a result of drowning. In an effort to make an impact on that statistic, the SwimMates program teaches first-graders in the Fremont community the importance of water safety and provides the children free swimming lessons. Students are taught in the pool and on land basic swimming skills and safety tips. Upon completion of the program, students receive a personalized certificate and large beach towel.
“Fremont is known for its great lakes and many families visit them each year. We want to make sure children in the community know what to do in the case of an emergency in the water,” said Veronica Barrientos, Marketing and Brand Ambassador at RTG Medical.
The program was mirrored after the Fremont Family YMCA’s ice skating program where all area Fremont second-graders are provided free ice skating lessons. The community has seen a huge uptick in both male and female ice skaters since the inception of the program, and our goal is to have that happen with swimming.
“We are grateful to RTG Medical and their partnership in the SwimMates program. Their support is helping us to strengthen our community by teaching a lifelong skill to hundreds of youth in our community,” said Mike Robinson, Membership & Marketing Director for the Fremont Family YMCA.
To learn more about RTG Medical’s Community Partnership Program, visit http://www.RTGMedical.com/Community.
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