The Valley Shore YMCA in Westbrook, CT is proud to receive a grant from the Community Foundation of Middlesex County in the amount of $2,500 to help support the Fit Kids Learn to Swim program for all Daisy Ingraham first graders in the town of Westbrook during their 2019 physical education classes, as well as all YMCA Summer Camp first graders in the Summer of 2019. This grant was made possible by the generosity of the Sherry and Herb Clark Family Fund.

The Community Foundation of Middlesex County is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for the people of the County, now and in the future, by developing endowments, making grants that have impact and assisting donors in meeting their philanthropic objectives. Since its founding in 1997, the Community Foundation has awarded 2,068 grants totaling more than $6 million for the arts, cultural and heritage programs, educational activities, environmental improvements, animal welfare, and for health and human services.

States Chris Pallatto, the Executive Director of the Valley Shore YMCA, “Partnering with Daisy Ingraham Elementary School, the Fit Kids Learn to Swim is such an exciting and successful program here at the Valley Shore Y, and ensuring that every first grader in Westbrook can participate in swim and aquatic safety lessons is a great illustration of our mission to teach all children in our community how to enjoy and be safe around the water. We are also excited to expand our program this year to all first graders in our Summer Camp. We feel grateful that the Community Foundation of Middlesex County chose our YMCA to receive this grant, and are proud to foster water safety and healthy living in the children of our community.”

Fit Kids is a partnership program with Westbrook’s Daisy Ingraham Elementary School whereby all first graders receive swim and aquatic safety lessons, free of charge, at the Valley Shore YMCA as part of their physical education curriculum. In 2019, Fit Kids will also be expanded to include first grade children in 2019 Camp Shore. For more information about Youth Aquatics Programs, please contact the Valley Shore YMCA at (860) 399-9622.