Safety Now, Skills for Life

Every year in our country, approximately 900 children die from drowning, and thousands more are hospitalized as a result of non-fatal drownings. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury for 5- to 14-year-old youth and also disproportionally affects children of color, with 64% of African American and 45% of Hispanic/Latino children being unable to swim, compared to 40% of Caucasian children. Additionally, according to the National Autism Association, from 2009-2011, accidental drowning accounted for approximately 90 percent of total U.S. deaths reported in children with autism ages 14 and younger to wandering or elopement. Because most of these tragic deaths are preventable, drowning prevention is a priority for YMCA of the USA and YMCAs across the country.

The Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs is happy to announce sub-grant opportunities for Illinois Ys to provide drowning prevention curriculum to 4,500 youth free of charge.

• Application Period: September 15, 2024 – October 15, 2024 (Closed for 2024. A second round will open in earl 2025.) 
• Programs must be offered between October 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025
• Target Age Group:  Youth ages 4-14 years
• Additional Funding:  If funds remain after the first round of applications, a second round may be opened in early 2025

Resources for administering the grant:
Skill Tally Sheet
Invitation to Elected Officials Template
Invitation to Funders and Community Organizations Template
SN SfL Press Release Template
Promotional Flyer (PDF) (For assistance with customization or to request the InDesign file, please email wendy.bonilla@illinoisymcas.org.)