Proud To Partner With Hope Floats Foundation

Beard Swim Co. is proud to partner with the Hope Floats Foundation in the effort to reduce the number of nationwide annual drownings by providing swim lesson scholarships and tuition assistance to children from low-income families.

HOW CAN I HELP?

Take action by donating to the Hope Floats Foundation today! Your contribution will directly help children, in the City of Gig Harbor and its surrounding communities, learn how to swim.

DROWNING FACTS

Drowning is the Leading Cause of Accidental Death in the U.S. for Ages 4 & Under (Center for Disease Control).

Drowning is the 2nd Leading Cause of Accidental Death in the U.S. for Ages 14 & Under (Center for Disease Control).

Globally, the highest drowning rates are among children 1-4 years, followed by children 5-9 years (World Health Organization).

Lower socioeconomic status is associated with higher risk of drowning (World Health Organization).

SCIENTIFIC BENEFITS OF SWIMMMING

Participation in formal swim lessons reduces risk of drowning by 88%. (National Institute of Health, Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, 2009)

Children who swim demonstrate more advanced cognitive and physical abilities than other children (20 months ahead in understanding directions; 17 months ahead in story recall; 10 months ahead in cognitive skills; 7 months ahead in fine motor skills.), according to research led by Griffith University.

APPLY FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE

Hope Floats makes its financial aid awards based on availability of funds and on a sliding scale similar to the one schools use to determine eligibility for free/reduced school lunches. (See USDA Income Eligibility.)

To apply for assistance, families must provide a completed Confidential Application for Tuition Support, as well as a copy of last year's Federal Tax Return with Social Security numbers redacted.

Please ensure your application is complete before submitting. Incomplete applications will not be considered.