The Gateway Family YMCA – Rahway Branch Announced as Recipient of USA Swimming Foundation Grant

Rahway, NJ, July 25, 2015 --(PR.com)-- The USA Swimming Foundation has announced a grant award to The Gateway Family YMCA – Rahway Branch, 1564 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ, providing for expansion of scholarships for swim lessons at the Y. The USA Swimming Foundation provided Make a Splash grants to 50 providers nationwide, who earned funding to provide swim lessons and water safety education for children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to learn to swim.

The Foundation distributed more than $300,000 to Make a Splash Local Partners, covering 23 states, with 15 programs (30 percent) earning USA Swimming Foundation funds for the first time. More than 150 applications were received, addressing specific guidelines to grow programs and serve lessons to more children. This is the second year The Gateway Family YMCA – Rahway Branch has received a USA Swimming grant.

“The USA Swimming Foundation is proud that funding will provide swimming instruction for more than 12,300 children in local communities,” said USA Swimming Foundation Executive Director Debbie Hesse. “Providing these grants makes it possible for the USA Swimming Foundation to live up to its mission of saving lives and building champions.”

The Gateway Family YMCA – Rahway Branch has been involved with Make a Splash since 2013 and, based largely on funding from the USA Swimming Foundation, the Rahway-based provider increased its free or reduced cost swim lessons throughout the local community.

“Through the generosity of the USA Swimming Foundation, we’ve expanded swim lesson scholarship opportunities giving us the chance to positively impact the lives of more children in our community,” said Rodger D. Koerber, Rahway Branch Executive Director. “Children from local communities in need will be able to enjoy swim lessons and learn a critical live-saving skill,” added Krystal R. Canady, CEO, The Gateway Family YMCA.

Since 2007, the USA Swimming Foundation has awarded more than $3.6 million in grant funding, including nearly $350,000 to 65 providers in 2014. More than three million children have received scholarships for swim lessons in the seven years of the initiative.

The Gateway Family YMCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, health and community service organization of caring staff and volunteers dedicated to strengthening the foundations of community and stands For Youth Development, For Healthy Living and For Social Responsibility. The Gateway Family YMCA impacts the community by providing quality services to people of all ages, races, faith or incomes. The Y doesn’t just strengthen bodies – it strengthens people, families and communities.

For more information about programs and services provided by The Gateway Family YMCA, please visit www.tgfymca.org or contact the Rahway Branch 732-388-0057.