Wyckoff YMCA Receives $5K Grant To Help Swimmers, Lifeguards

WYCKOFF, NJ — The Wyckoff Family YMCA received a $5,000 grant to fund scholarships for swimming lessons and lifeguard training.

Stew Leonard III Children's Charities gave the Y the grant. The charity is dedicated to child water safety awareness and education. Kim and Stew Leonard founded the organization after their 21-month-old son died drowning in 1989.

The Y will use the funds to continue its 6-year-old Learn to Swim With the Sharks summer program. The Wyckoff Y's Sharks swim team teaches kids basic water safety and swimming techniques to children from Oasis, a nonprofit shelter in Paterson, at an annual camp. Kids work one-on-one with campers.

"In an effort to promote a learning experience for our own Sharks, a nationally ranked team, we have trained our senior team members to lead and execute this swim program under the direction of our senior aquatic staff and our swim coaches," said Nancy Addis, director of development for the Wyckoff Y.

For more information about the Learn to Swim With the Sharks program or to apply for a swimming or lifeguard training scholarship, email Addis at nancya@wyckoffymca.org.

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Photo: A member of the Wyckoff Family YMCA's Sharks swim team works with a student during a swimming lesson.