INDIANAPOLIS — As part of the Y’s commitment to reduce drowning rates and keep kids safe in and around the water, nine YMCA of Greater Indianapolis Centers will provide scholarships for swim instruction and water safety to children from underserved communities.
Y Centers to provide swim instruction scholarships include: Baxter, Benjamin Harrison, Irsay Family at CityWay, Jordan, and Ransburg.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second-leading cause of death for children ages one to 14 years old. In ethnically diverse communities, the youth drowning rate is two to three times higher than the national average, according to a USA Swimming study. Additionally, 64 percent of African-American children, 45 percent of Latino children, and 40 percent of Caucasian children have no or low swimming ability.
The Y believes this is especially true following 2020’s COVID-19 shutdowns. In a typical year, the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis teaches 15,000 in their swim programs — this decreased to 5,000 in 2020.
To learn how to qualify for financial assistance, please contact your local YMCA of Greater Indianapolis Center for more information. Call 317-955-9622 (CityWay), 317-357-8441 (Ransburg), 317-881-9347 (Baxter), 317-547-9622 (Harrison), 317-253-3206 (Jordan).