Help a Child Learn to Swim to Save Their Own Life

This summer, Rising Tide Effect made a phenomenal impact, significantly expanding its programming across three distinct locations throughout New York City.  

Our mission is to eliminate death by drowning, particularly in those underserved socioeconomic regions & groups that are most vulnerable.

Our vision is to create a world where underserved communities have access to safe, quality swimming lessons & water safety education. To help reduce drowning rates & increase water safety knowledge. 

We empower positive change in underserved & at risk communities through the aquatic experience, freeing people from fear & helping them access joy

Explore Our Three Dynamic New York Programs from Summer 2023:

Location: The Rockaway Hotel, Rockaway, NYC

Program Overview: Free swimming lessons, water safety education, guest speakers and hot meals.

Employment opportunities: Provided 4 instructors employment

Served: 151 participants

Meals provided: 468

Water Safety Workshops offered: 5 

Location: Ocean Park, Far Rockaway, NYC 

Program Overview: Free swimming lessons ,  water safety education and Junior Lifeguard program. 

Employment opportunities: Provided 4 instructors employment

Demographic: Ocean Park residents 

Served: 49 participants 

Water Safety Workshops offered:6 

Location: Brooklyn Sports Club, NYC 

Program Overview: NYCHA SWIM CORP YOUTH PROGRAM (PILOT), 

First of its kind approach to water safety, learning to swim and career exploration as an earn-while-you-learn project-based experience, offering paid employment, swimming lessons, life-safety training, and professional skills development to NYCHA youth. In collaboration with the Public Housing Community Fund and the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, Rising Tide Effect launched a six-week Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) pilot in the summer of 2023. 

Supporting NYCHA youth ages 16 to 24 in central Brooklyn and Rockaway, Queens communities, our objectives included fostering leadership skills by 

• Learning to swim and gaining more water competency
• Enhancing mental and physical health
• Gaining nutrition knowledge and better physical fitness
• Obtaining CPR/AED certification
• Providing mentorship and professional development opportunities
• Exploring careers and providing job preparation opportunities including interview training, and job readiness skills
• Participating in diverse water-based activities such as surfing, kayaking, and environmental stewardship
• Providing exposure to career pathways in aquatics and the blue economy

Employment opportunities: Provided 5 instructors employment

Demographic: Youth 16 to 24 years

Served: 17 participants

Meals provided: 460

Certifications: 13 CPR & First Aid Certifications

Started this October 2024

Location: Chelsea Piers, Prospect Heights NYC

Program Overview: Free swimming lessons & water safety education for  3rd  grade students in PS.9 Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, RTE offering swimming lessons and water safety classes during school hours as part of their enrichment program

Employment opportunities: Provided 1 program director (Chelsea Piers is providing the instructors) 

Demographic: PS. 9 students 

Served: 120  participants

Water Safety Workshops offered:6 

79% of children from families that earn less than $50,000 per year are at risk of drowning.

*USA Swimming Foundation Study 2017.

Rising Tide Effect aims to expand yearly, in new locations,  with the sole purpose of eliminating death by drowning, particularly in those underserved socioeconomic regions & groups that are most vulnerable.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to each donor, whose generous support and steadfast commitment have been instrumental in driving the success and implementing the vision of Rising Tide Effect.

Links:

• Swim Safety Corps Program covered by The NYCHA Journal