Supporters of Float Hope of Indian River County, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching children from low-income families how to swim, gathered recently at an invitational Donors and Friends Reception at the John’s Island Club hosted by Jeffrey Powers, Float Hope founder and CEO.
After catching up with guests over cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres, Powers spoke about the organization he formed in 2017, after learning that the vast majority of children living in low-income families do not know how to swim.
Float Hope now enrolls students from Boys and Girls Clubs in Vero Beach, Fellsmere and Sebastian, and from the Gifford Youth Achievement Center.
“Our goal is to take kids ages 6 to 8 and get them into the swim program. We end up with two-thirds that are girls. We want kids that don’t have an interest in another sport, or have no interest in sports, and we can turn them into a swimmer.”
Powers said that many of the children are from single-family homes and, upon first introduction, are often shy or timid. “And our whole idea is to really lift them up, give them confidence in themselves,” said Powers.
Participants swim a minimum of three days a week and compete in two swim meets a year. They also sponsor parties so the children can socialize together.
“We start with kids that literally get off the bus and are looking at the ground. And then a year later they’re flying off the bus. And now they love to swim,” said Powers, who views swimming as a way to open up new experiences in school and in life.
“I want them to kick the high school door open and say ‘I’m here! I’ve got a lot of friends. I can swim on the varsity team as a freshman. I’ve got confidence in myself. I’ve got medals on my wall.’ We’re taking the neediest kids and trying to bring them forward,” said Powers.
Gardy Desrosiers, GYAC athletic director, thanked donors for their support and said that they are working to increase participation to pre-pandemic numbers.
“The swim program has tremendously affected our kids in a positive way,” said Desrosiers.
“They’ve learned self-determination, self-motivation, they’ve learned how to win and lose in the proper manner and, most importantly, they’ve learned teamwork and how to be coached.
We just ask that you continue to support our kids anyway possible. We really appreciate it.”
Freddie Woolfork, GYAC director of public relations, said he had almost drowned at age 11 and vowed to never go back into the water again, until Powers and swim coach Scott Barlow convinced him that the children would be more apt to swim if he did.
“And after several lessons I began to get it and get it. Finally, I went across the pool swimming, and I said to myself, I got it,” said Woolfork.
He added that Powers and the coaches have worked diligently with staff at GYAC in terms of scheduling to ensure swimming didn’t interfere with the focus of GYAC, which is academics.
Contributions help pay for highly qualified coaches, pool time, bathing suits and other equipment, USA Swimming registration, and competition entry fees.
For more information, visit FloatHopeNow.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones
