The issue of minorities’ drowning rates has recently received great attention; both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal have covered the topic this year. African-American children drown at more than three times the rate of white children. The problem is aggravated in New York City by the absence of swimming facilities. Since 1993, Asphalt Green’s Waterproofing program has helped almost 30,000 children learn to swim for free. Many of these children come from East Harlem, where children are a high risk of drowning.

Working with New York City Public Schools, almost 2,000 children a year come to Asphalt Green during their school day and learn how to swim and be safe in the water. These kids are learning a sport they can participate in for a lifetime, as well as an important life skill. And the benefits go beyond the pool deck; as one Waterproofing student said:

I told myself, if I can swim, I can do anything I want to do.

Each spring, we celebrate the success of the Waterproofing program with The Big Swim, a free swim meet for 1,000 children and a dinner-dance benefit. For more information about supporting Waterproofing, email us here.

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