As the new school year approaches, CFY Pinellas continues its commitment to helping children across Pinellas County access life-saving water safety education.
Through the Fred Fisher Water Safety Program, CFY partners with Pinellas County Schools, local municipalities, and community supporters to provide free swim lessons and water safety training to Title I elementary students. The program is designed to remove the barriers that often keep families from accessing swim instruction, including:
Recently featured on Fox 13 News, CFY’s partnership with Skyview Elementary and the City of Pinellas Park highlighted the impact this program is already having on students, families, and schools.
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As Fox 13 shared, “Pinellas County is helping to make certain these kids are safe before they get in the water.” Community support helps CFY continue removing barriers like cost, transportation, and access to safe swim instruction for Pinellas County students.
For children growing up in Florida, water safety is more than a recreational skill. It is an essential part of staying safe in a community surrounded by pools, beaches, lakes, and waterways.
The Fred Fisher Water Safety Program gives students in kindergarten through second grade the opportunity to participate in six structured swim lessons during the school year.
These lessons focus on helping students build:
For many participating students, this is their first experience with formal water safety instruction.
As CFY’s work was described in the Fox 13 feature, the program helps bridge the gap between “affordable and attainable swim lessons and water safety training,” while also addressing the transportation needs that often prevent families from participating.
One of the most important parts of the program is that it provides direct access to students during the school day.
As shared in the Fox 13 News feature, transportation can be one of the biggest barriers for families and schools when it comes to swim lessons. Even when free or low-cost swim instruction is available, parents may still struggle with:
CFY helps solve this challenge by coordinating transportation from participating Title I elementary schools to local pools.
For Skyview Elementary students, that means parents only need to send their children to school prepared with a towel and swimsuit. CFY, the school, and program partners help make the rest possible.
This approach also removes a major financial and logistical burden from schools, where transportation costs can make off-campus programs difficult to provide.
In Pinellas Park, the Fred Fisher Water Safety Program serves students through partnerships with local schools and community partners. Lessons take place at Skyview Pool, with water safety instruction provided by the City of Pinellas Park.
The program currently supports Title I elementary schools, including:
Through these partnerships, more young students are gaining access to the skills, education, and confidence they need to be safer around water.
Parents, school leaders, and community members have expressed gratitude for the program’s ability to make swim lessons more accessible for children who may not otherwise have the opportunity.
As Fox 13 noted, CFY is helping address not only the need for swim lessons, but also “the transportation for kids to get to that training for these parents that really need that piece of the equation figured out.”
Learn More About Water Safety.
The Fred Fisher Water Safety Program honors Fred Fisher, a longtime Pinellas County businessman, philanthropist, and volunteer who helped shape youth athletics and aquatics in the community.
After the tragic drowning of his four-year-old son, Mark, in 1962, Fred dedicated himself to expanding water safety education so more families could have access to the skills and support that can help prevent similar tragedies.
Today, CFY continues that legacy by investing in programs that give children the opportunity to:
CFY is partnering with multiple Title I elementary schools across Pinellas County to make water safety education more accessible for students in kindergarten through second grade.
Through the Fred Fisher Water Safety Program, students receive:
As registration opportunities become available for the upcoming school year, families are encouraged to stay connected with their school and CFY Pinellas for updates about program participation. Donations help CFY continue providing free swim lessons, transportation, and water safety education for local students.
The Fred Fisher Water Safety Program is designed for students in kindergarten through second grade at participating Title I elementary schools across Pinellas County. Families should check with their child’s school or CFY Pinellas for updates about program availability and registration.
Participating students receive six structured swim lessons during the school year. These lessons focus on water exposure, basic swimming and floating skills, confidence-building, and water safety education.
Yes. The program provides free swim lessons and water safety training for eligible students at participating schools. CFY also helps coordinate transportation, which removes one of the biggest barriers for families and schools.
Lessons take place at local community pools through partnerships with schools, municipalities, and community organizations. For the Pinellas Park program featured on Fox 13 News, lessons were held at Skyview Pool with support from the City of Pinellas Park.
In Florida, children are often surrounded by pools, beaches, lakes, and other bodies of water. Early water safety education helps students build confidence, learn basic swimming and floating skills, and better understand how to stay safe in and around water.
The Fred Fisher Water Safety Program is one example of how CFY Pinellas works to remove barriers and create meaningful opportunities for children across the county.
By providing transportation, access to certified instruction, and structured water safety education during the school day, CFY is helping students gain skills that can last a lifetime.
Help more Pinellas County students build confidence and stay safe around water. Learn more by visiting the Fred Fisher Water Safety Program page or contacting CFY Pinellas today.