Swim lesson scholarships focus of fundraiser

IOWA CITY - Swimming is an ideal summer activity, and one Iowa City program aims to make sure the water isn't dangerous for young children.

A handful of families visited Mercer Park Aquatic Center and Scanlon Gym Saturday to take part in a fundraiser for an Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department scholarship program that helps children from low-income families enroll in swim lessons.

The event, called Splashes for Scholarships Family Carnival, was organized by University of Iowa students and included kid-friendly activities and a silent auction.

The goal was to raise $1,000 for the swim lesson scholarship program, said Emily VanWiel, event organizer and a sophomore in communication studies at UI.

The scholarship program covers lessons in the Iowa City Parks and Recreation basic or group swim lesson program for Iowa City children, according to the department's website.

According to the World Health Organization, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional death in children worldwide.

The scholarship program, created three years ago, aims to help prevent drownings.

'We saw a need for kids who were still not able to participate in swim lessons, even with our low-income price options,” said Matthew Eckhardt, aquatic supervisor for the Parks and Recreation Department.

Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended formal swimming lessons early on to teach children basic survival skills, such as the ability to float.

Saturday's event is one of four fundraisers scheduled for the scholarship program during the coming spring and summer months that help fund lessons year-round, Eckhardt said.

Organizers had already raised about $200 when the event began Saturday morning, VanWiel said.

Eckhardt said the department works with area schools to identify students who qualify. Otherwise, parents can sign children up online.

'We've never had to turn anyone away,” Eckhardt said.

Eckhardt said the department is planning other fundraising events in the coming months. For more information on these fundraisers as they're announced, visit the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department's website at icgov.org.

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