CORE Community Center was chosen as one of 124 youth programs from the USA Swimming Foundation’s nationwide network of swim lesson providers to receive grant money in 2024. The grant award of $5000 will go toward CORE’s continued efforts to provide free or reduced-cost swim lessons. This year, the USA Swimming Foundation has awarded $650,000 in its initial round of funding to programs across the country.
“We are thrilled to be chosen for this grant,” Executive Director Stephanie Cooper recently shared. “The money we received will be put toward continuing swim education for our local community, aiding in the cost to hire and train qualified lifeguards and retain important awareness for this program.”
CORE Community Center swim lessons are a high-demand, year-round service for the Clinton County community serving children ages 2.5 years up to adults. In the past, we have provided free swim lessons along with various other free youth sports for all children in our Township via funds from the Center Township Trustee. However, the need for this program and the others has outgrown the funds available to continue offering all the programs for free. We are seeking alternate funding for the swim lessons to allow more participants to take part in swim lessons and the other youth sports in our community.
The USA Swimming Foundation vetted more than 400 applications through a competitive annual review process and chose 124 youth and 38 adult programs to receive funding.
“The USA Swimming Foundation is proud to continue providing Learn-to-Swim opportunities at the local level for both adults and youth,” said USA Swimming Foundation Executive Director Elaine Calip. “With the excitement surrounding U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming and the Olympic Games, we anticipate an increased interest in our sport. We are thrilled to continue our partnership with lesson providers nationwide to keep kids and adults safe in and around the water.”
Millions of individuals have received the lifesaving gift of swim lessons through the USA Swimming Foundation’s network of swim lesson providers, comprised of more than 1,500 qualified lesson providers across the nation. To learn more, visit www.usaswimming.org/foundation.
For more information on CORE Community Center visit www.corecommunitycenter.org.