Five hundred Talbot County youth officially celebrated their graduation on Friday August 14 from the SOS: Sink or Swim program in a Swim Kids’ Celebration Party held from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Bay Hundred Community Pool in St. Michaels. All the new swimmers earned a certificate of accomplishment, and received a free SOS tee shirt to announce their accomplishment. The swimmers and their families enjoyed an evening of swimming, music and food.
The SOS: Sink or Swim program is the signature initiative of the Miles River Yacht Club Foundation, carried out in partnership with the St. Michaels Community Center and Critchlow Atlkins Children’s Center. In a five year period, the MRYC Foundation seeks to teach every Talbot County non-swimmer under 15 how to swim. In its first two years, 775 non-swimmers have become swimmers.
The program addresses the Foundation’s concern that many children and adults on the Eastern Shore do not know how to swim, resulting in numerous drownings every year. Dr. Sherry Manning, Foundation Chairman, said that “we believe that swimming is a basic life skill when you live near the water, as well as being an athletic accomplishment that enriches every child’s life and builds their self confidence.”
Each participating child took part in two weeks of daily swimming lessons between June 29 and August 14 at either the Bay Hundred Community Pool in St. Michaels or the Moton Pool in Easton.
The MRYC Foundation supports organizations that offer youth sailing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, rowing and other maritime-oriented educational programs. In its first four year of grant-making, the Foundation has provided $200,949 in grants to 23 nonprofit organizations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
MRYC Foundation Directors gather at the August 14th SOS” Sink or Swim graduation party for 500 new Talbot County young swimmers.
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Patti Willis says
A fantastic program and a great celebration this past week. Thank you, Miles River Yacht Club Foundation!