At Swim Lessons with Mary, we’re proud to announce our new partnership with the Hope Floats Foundation , an incredible organization dedicated to empowering underserved communities through the life-changing skill of swimming. This collaboration is more than just a partnership—it’s a mission to make a lasting impact on individuals and families, offering them the opportunity to thrive both in and out of the water. What is the Hope Floats Foundation? The Hope Floats Foundation is a non-profit organization that collaborates with high-quality swim schools to offer scholarships for swimming lessons to children from low-income families. The organization funds its efforts through partnerships with individuals, businesses, and foundations that are committed to making a positive impact in their communities. These scholarships and tuition assistance help ensure that children who may not have the financial means can access swim lessons.. Through their initiatives, they focus on ensuring that people of all ages can experience the life-saving and confidence-boosting benefits of learning how to swim. Their goal is to reduce the number of drownings and increase water safety awareness, particularly in communities where these opportunities are limited. Why Does This Partnership Matter? At Swim Lessons with Mary, we’re more than just about teaching people to swim. We believe in the power of swimming to transform lives—building confidence, promoting a life long sport and most importantly, saving lives. Drowning is the leading cause of death in children 4 and under, and we are passionate that water safety is for all and are expanding our reach and impact. Swim Lessons with Mary is the only swim school in the Upstate partnering with the Hope Floats Foundation to offer scholarships to the community. One of the primary benefits of our partnership is that we’re helping make swimming lessons accessible to children and adults in underserved communities. Many families in these areas don’t have the resources to access swim lessons, which means that many people grow up without the necessary skills to be safe in and around water. This partnership enables us to offer scholarships to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity. Water safety is often an overlooked skill, yet it’s essential in preventing drownings. The Hope Floats Foundation shares our belief that everyone should have access to water safety education, regardless of their background or financial status. What’s Next for Our Partnership? We are incredibly excited about the future of this partnership. In the coming months, we will be hosting fundraising efforts and additional opportunities to get involved. Our goal is to provide as many swim lesson scholarships as possible and continue to spread the message of water safety and empowerment to those in need. Together with the Hope Floats Foundation, we’re not just teaching people how to swim—we’re giving them the chance to make waves in their own lives. How Do I Get Involved? If you’re inspired by our mission and want to support the cause, there are plenty of ways to get involved! Whether you’re interested in donating or simply spreading the word, every bit of support helps us bring these important opportunities to those in need. Stay tuned for more updates and information about how we’re working together to make our community a safer and more empowering place—one stroke at a time. We hope this partnership inspires others to join us in making a difference, because together, we can create a future where everyone has the skills, confidence, and opportunity to thrive in the water.

What is a Happy Nappy Duo? The Happy Nappy Duo is Splash About’s new and improved reusable swim diaper. It takes all the amazing benefits of their original Happy Nappy such as its waterproof neoprene outer layer and snug fitting legs and waistband and adds an innovative silver lining. The lining gives the diaper antibacterial properties to knock out germs from any accidents your child may have while swimming. This cutting-edge, silver lining is why we at Swim Lessons with Mary require all non-potty-trained swimmers to wear a Happy Nappy Duo during their swim lessons to help keep the pool clean, safe, and enjoyable for everyone! Why the Silver Lining? Silver has been used for centuries to help kill bacteria. Dr Pam Cameron completed a scientific study on behalf of Splash About and found that, “The Silver lining fabrics have been tested and redeveloped over a 2-year period. The final product is highly antibacterial in a pool water solution and Imaging at CytoViva shows Cryptosporidium Oocysts cell walls as flattened and shriveled, when interacting with the silver from the fabric.” What does this all mean? You can rest assured that you are helping to protect your child and other swimmers from nasty germs like E-Coli, Gastroenteritis, and Covid 19 when putting a Happy Nappy Duo on your baby. What’s even better? Silver has also been found to soothe skin conditions, so if your child struggles with diaper rash, eczema, or similar skin conditions, the Happy Nappy Duo will help instead of further irritating them! Where to Get a Happy Nappy Duo? You can find Happy Nappy Duos for purchase in several different places. We highly encourage all of our clients to purchase directly from the Splash About website in advance of your first lesson. Their website has a wonderful variety of awesome patterns and sizes. In a pinch and forgot to bring one for your lesson? No worries! We carry a few of each size on the pool deck just in case!

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