Preserving a Memory, Providing for the Future: Little Fishes Swim School Introduces Scholarship Fund

St. Louis, MO—Little Fishes Swim School (LFSS), St. Louis’ first private, indoor, year-round swim school, announces the launch of The Ellen and Bennett Zarren Scholarship Fund to make swimming lessons possible for deserving families throughout the region. The scholarship fund is named after the late parents of Ruthie Zarren, the founder of Little Fishes Swim School.

Each quarter, a select number of children will be selected to receive three months of free swimming lessons. The first recipient starts lessons in September at the LFSS location of his/her choosing.

The scholarship fund was jump-started by a $2500 grant received in May from USA Swimming, and donations from the Zarren Family Trust and Froggles goggles company. Since then, the fund has grown through donations from current and past LFSS students and families. Little Fishes is matching up to the first $10,000 in donations. In addition, in both LFSS locations, people can make contributions to the fund in lieu of paying for coffee.

“My parents were instrumental in providing the support I needed to start Little Fishes Swim School,” said Zarren. “From loaning me money to offering emotional support to helping me decorate the first facility, they validated my dream and helped it to become a reality.”

Those interested in applying for the scholarship can contact LFSS professional, Mollie Barnes, at coachmollie@littlefishesswimschool.com. A link to a comprehensive application will be provided and responses will be assessed by FACTS Grant & Aid to ensure all recipients meet specified requirements. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and will be considered for a potential scholarship in the year in which they are received.

LFSS’s passion for providing a lifesaving skill to as many children as possible has fueled the growth of this premier swim education center since it opened its first one-pool facility in Brentwood in 2008. In fact, the organization has experienced significant growth every year since. The addition of the Chesterfield location in April 2014 came just one year after the original Brentwood facility moved to a larger three-pool space to accommodate more than 1500 weekly students.

Zarren’s mother, who passed away in July 2014, and her father, who passed away in December 2014, were proud of what LFSS had become.

“This scholarship fund has been in development for three years,” said Zarren. “The team surprised me by naming it after my parents because they knew that they shared my love of water and supported my passion for providing this life-saving skill. As the fund grows, we hope to give more families the gift of swimming lessons.”

###

About Little Fishes Swim School

Little Fishes Swim School (LFSS) is a premier swim education center—and the first private, indoor, year-round swim school in St. Louis. With two facility locations, one in Brentwood and one in Chesterfield, LFSS has taught more than 6000 children, ages 6 months to 6 years, to swim, giving them a “Skill for Life.” By combining innovative curricula, certified and experienced staff, a family-friendly environment, and premium customer service, LFSS helps to build confidence, strengthen motor skills, and develop a foundation for a lifetime of safe swimming. For more, www.littlefishesswimschool.com or 314-647-SWIM (7946).