Coming Soon: Tiger University Water Safety Presentation

Just in time for the warmer weather, a new workshop about Water Safety is coming for Lincoln-Way area residents. Sponsored by District 157-C Tiger University, the presentation will be held on May 9, 6:00 p.m., at Hickory Creek Middle School, 22150 W. 116th Avenue in Frankfort. All Lincoln-Way area parents/guardians are welcome to attend. Please register at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044aa9ab22a57-water.

The presentation will be conducted by the Matthew Kocher Foundation and Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP) to promote water safety and save lives. The Foundation was created in response to Matthew Kocher’s tragic drowning on July 27, 2013. John and Kathy Kocher, Matthew’s parents, do not want any other family to experience the life changing experience of losing their child through a preventable drowning. Matthew was 15 years old and was going to begin his sophomore year at Andrew High School. Matt was an A student, and played football, basketball and volleyball. Matt was a strong swimmer but was unaware of the dangers of Lake Michigan. A rip-current swept Matt out into the water as he stood with four of his friends in knee deep water. Matt did not know how to react to the rip-current and he drowned.

The Kocher family were “pool people” and only experienced “open water” during vacations. Since Matt’s drowning they have partnered with the GLSRP to go to schools and many kinds of organizations to spread the word about water safety. In April of 2017, John and Kathy Kocher were awarded the (NDPA) National Drowning Prevention Alliance’s Lifesaver of the Year Award. In 2016 they were awarded the Community Lifesaver of the Year Award by the NDPA. In 2015 they were awarded by national non-profit organization “Because I Said I Would” their Supporter of the Year Award. The Matthew Kocher Foundation has funded presentations that have reached over 65,000 students.

The GLSRP is a nationally recognized drowning prevention organization that is committed to saving lives through education. This group is a great source of information for the media in Chicagoland and especially the Great Lakes area. The organization has received numerous awards for their efforts to educate and inform people about water safety.

Further information about the Matthew Kocher Foundation or the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project can be found at the Matthew Kocher Foundation website, www.MK56.org and Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project website, www.GLSRP.org.

Tiger University is an opportunity for Lincoln-Way area parents offered by Frankfort School District 157-C in collaboration with its Family School Partnership (FSP) organization. Its purpose is to provide parents and guardians with information on a variety of topics.