Swim Strong in The News

Swim Strong is a finalist in the 2014 Diversity and Inclusion (DANDI) Sports Category

The DANDI Awards showcase individuals and organizations for their demonstration and outstanding commitment to the creation of a more diverse and inclusive world. This year they will continue recognize and honor those who do so in sports, our category. The third annual awards ceremony is scheduled for: Monday, Dec. 1, 2014 6.30 pm New York Times Building DANDI nominees are reviewed by an independent Ambassador Council who anonymously vote to select category winners. The Diversity and Inclusion Awards was founded in 2012. Previous winners in this category...

Race, Fear and the Risk of Drowning

Published on City Limits by Jarrett Murphy on Jul 8, 2014 As the weather heats up so does the concern for water safety around pools and waterfronts. On Monday, Brooklyn's borough president reminded parents to supervise their children closely after Ruhshona Kurbonova, a two-year-old, drowned in Prospect Park Lake this past weekend. "A city that is surrounded by a body of water shouldn’t lose human bodies to swimming incidents or water-related incidents," said Eric Adams. City Topics Health and Environment To prevent further drowning...

Brooklyn Borough President, Nonprofit Urge Swimming Safety After Drowning

Published on CBS New York on July 7, 2014 NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — In the wake of the drowning death of a toddler in Prospect Park, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and a nonprofit swimming education group have joined together to urge proper water safety. As 1010 WINS’ Sonia Rincon reported, swimming spots around Brooklyn will be getting visits in the next few days from Adams and Swim Strong, which offers low-cost swimming lessons. Swim Strong co-founder Shawn Slevin said the group will...

Swim Strong Foundation promotes water safety after drownings

THE BRONX - Elected officials are teaming up with a local nonprofit to promote water safety in the wake of recent drownings around the city. The Swim Strong Foundation is urging swimmers to take precautions that could save their lives whether swimming in a pool or open body of water. They include swimming near a lifeguard at all times and never swimming alone. Parents are also urged to supervise their children and to never rely on flotation devices alone. Continue reading on...

Toddler’s Drowning Death in Prospect Park Lake Ruled Accidental

The city's medical examiner has officially ruled the death of a two-year-old Brooklyn girl this weekend an accidental drowning. Police say little Ruhshona Kurbonova wandered off from a family gathering in Prospect Park Saturday. She was found dead in the park's lake. She and her three-year-old cousin disappeared near the park's boathouse at around 1:30 p.m. Her cousin was found safe a half hour later. Meantime, in the wake of Kurbonova's drowning death and four others that have occurred over the past three weeks, there...

After drowning deaths, Brooklynites urged to follow safety procedure

In the wake of multiple drowning deaths across the borough, Brooklynites are being urged to exercise proper water safety habits. Representatives from the Swim Strong Foundation, a non-profit organization that works with children and adults to combat drowning through affordable swim lessons, appeared with the Borough President and the family of a two-year-old drowning victim at Grand Army Plaza on Monday to stress several important tips. Continue reading on Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Swim Strong Founder Shawn Slevin on “Behind the Shadows”

Shawn Slevin Founder of Swim Strong Foundation will be on the air with Susan Finelli of Behind the Shadows on May 1st, May 7th, and May 13th. Check out the list of times and channels for the New York area: Thurs, May 1st @ 6:30 p.m. TimeWarner Channel 1996 RCN Channel 83 Verizon Channel 34 Wed, May 7th @ 8 p.m. TimeWarner Channel 1996 RCN Channel 82 Verizon Channel 33 Wed, May 7th @ 8 p.m. TimeWarner Channel 1996 RCN Channel 82 Verizon Channel 33 http://www.prlog.org/12315220-susan-finelli-behind-the-shadows-swim-strong-foundation-interview-with-shawn-slevin.html

Swim Strong being honored at St. Pat’s for All parade!

Swim Strong Foundation is excited to be honored at the 15th marching of the St. Pat’s for All Parade which will be held on Sunday March 2nd at 1pm in Sunnyside/Woodside. All those who march here embrace the spirit of hospitality and inclusion that is so uniquely Irish. Come march with us and celebrate the Irish in YOU…by heritage or advocacy!

Hurricane Sandy Crept Up on a Boy Who Couldn’t Swim. Guess What He Did.

Published: August 11, 2013Author: Lisa W. FoderaroSource: The New York Times After Hurricane Sandy brought the ocean to his doorstep, Kenrick Sultan felt a new sense of vulnerability. A shy 15-year-old, he has lived by water his entire life — but he never learned how to swim. He was born in Antigua, the Caribbean Island known for its 365 beaches. For the past decade, he has lived in the Far Rockaway section of Queens. Before this summer, he had set foot on the...

Drowning: Second Leading Cause of Accidental Death for Children 14 and Younger

Author: Clem Richardson, Daily News Staff Writer Source: NYDailyNews.com Nearly 60% of African-American children living in urban areas can’t swim, according to a 2005 USA Swimming survey. The statistics read like some deadly math problem. Add that to the fact that drowning ranks second - behind car crashes - as the leading cause of accidental death for children 14 and younger and the results are predictable. African-American children 5 to 14 years old are three times as likely to drown than white children, according to...