Industry News: Will Sarosdy Swim For Life Fund Names Oakland Community Pools Project Grant Recipient

AUSTIN, Texas, May 19. THE Will Sarosdy Swim for Life Fund is pleased to name the Oakland Community Pools Project (OCPP) as a 2009 recipient of a grant award in honor of swimming coach and athlete Will Sarosdy. OCPP provides free and low cost aquatics programs to the youth of Oakland, California in a fun and unique environment deeply rooted in self-discipline, teamwork, and whole-body awareness.

Funds from this grant will allow OCPP provide 50% fee waivers for up to ten participants in its Learn to Swim program and 50% fee waivers for at least two members of the Oakland Undercurrent Swim Team.

According to Ben Sheppard, OCPP Executive Director, “this generous gift will allow us to continue to offer low cost swim school and swim team to the youth of Oakland. We are honored and proud to be selected to honor the life of Will and his Passion and love for the sport of swimming. Almost 60% of Latino/Hispanic and 60% of African American children do not know how to swim. We aim to do our part in Oakland and inspire others to do their part in other cities around the country.

Oakland Community Pools Project was established in 1997 with the goal to provide affordable, community-driven, swim-related programs that engage the local youth and empower them to achieve success. Today, the Oakland Undercurrent Swim Team is the most diverse team in the world with 120 swimmer representing over 20 ethnicities and hailing from communities who have traditionally not participated in aquatics sports. OCPP serves an additional 200 youth in its Learn to Swim Program. The Oakland Undercurrent was honored with USA Swimming’s inaugural Diversity Award and was presented as a model for urban diversity in sports at its national convention.

For more information on OCCP, please visit www.oaklandswiming.org or contact info@oaklandswimming.org.

The Will Sarosdy Swim for Life Fund was established in Will’s memory to support swim programs throughout the country, including especially programs to help underprivileged youth participate in the sport of swimming. As an athlete and a coach Will recognized that swimming is about more than competition; it is about developing life-long friendships, experiences and core values including discipline, integrity and self-respect, about helping others to learn and improve, about being the best one can be and bringing out the best in others. This fund will try to realize Will’s goal of making those opportunities available to young people who might otherwise not have them.

For more information about the fund or to apply for a grant, please contact the Will Sarosdy Swim for Life Fund at swimforlifefund@gmail.com. Funds are still available for 2009.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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