Patchogue Family YMCA Staff Raise Nearly $4,000 Swimming for Charity During 'Laps for Lessons' Event

LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (MARCH 24, 2016) – The Patchogue Family YMCA and Brookhaven Roe YMCA Center recently hosted ‘Laps for Lessons,’ a unique charity event in which aquatic staff members from both YMCA branches swam continuously for one hour, raising nearly $4,000. The money raised will grant 39 local Brookhaven individuals access to learn how to swim at the YMCA, the leading provider of swim lessons on Long Island.

“The aquatics staff have been wonderful in their hard work to put together such a triumphant event to benefit local community members,” said Anne Brigis, President and CEO of the YMCA of Long Island. “We are very excited to see the goal has been surpassed, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who kindly pledged their support to our swimmers.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every day, about ten people die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger. Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States. Research has shown that participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning among children aged one to four years.

“With this being the first time we put together this event, we were inspired knowing all of the money raised by the community will stay within the Y to benefit community members in need of financial assistance,” said Tracie Busch, Aquatic Director of the Patchogue Family YMCA. “Our goal was to raise at least $1,000 to provide swim lessons to ten individuals, which we far exceeded.”

The YMCA offers swim lessons to all ages and skill-levels to help individuals develop water confidence, water safety and self-rescue skills. All proceeds from “Laps for Lessons” will help both children and adults, providing them with the opportunity to feel confident and secure in the water and prepared with water-safety skills.

“In addition to our fellow-YMCA staff who opted to swim with us for a great cause, we are extremely grateful to the dedicated community members of the YMCA pool who supported our first-held ‘Laps for Lessons’ event through pledges and/or cheering us on,” added Christina Frank, Aquatic Manager of the Patchogue Family YMCA. “We feel a sense of pride knowing we are able to help individuals have access to swim lessons.”

Individuals interested in financial assistance to receive a swim scholarship should contact the Patchogue Family YMCA at 631-891-1800.

To learn more about swim programs at the YMCA, visit https://ymcali.org/programs/swim-lessons-aquatics/.

About the Y

The YMCA is a leader in providing programs that strengthen the mind, body and spirit connection. Long Islanders of all ages and fitness levels learn to live their healthiest lives inside the YMCA’s state-of-the-art facilities in Brookhaven, East Hampton, Glen Cove, Bay Shore, Huntington and Patchogue. The YMCA of Long Island is a cause-driven nonprofit organization that works to strengthen communities through programs that focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For information and locations, visit www.ymcali.org, or call 855-296-2254.

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