Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership

GREATER RICHMOND AQUATICS PARTNERSHIP CHANGED ITS TRADE NAME TO SWIMRVA IN 2014. THE MISSION OF SWIMRVA (GRAP) IS TO SERVE AS A CATALYST FOR WATER SAFETY, HEALTH AND FITNESS, SPORTS TOURISM, COMPETITIVE AQUATICS, AND POSSIBILITY, FOR ALL RICHMONDERS. SWIMRVA IS BUILDING SOCIAL BRIDGES THROUGH AQUATICS THAT CROSS PHYSICAL, RACIAL, AND ECONOMIC BARRIERS. SWIMRVA IS WORKING TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF HUMAN HISTORY AS IT RELATES TO AQUATICS IN THE RICHMOND REGION BY FOCUSING ON UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES. 70 PERCENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN DO NOT LEARN HOW TO SWIM AND A STAGGERING 50% OF THE POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO SWIM. 78 PERCENT OF CHILDREN FROM HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOME BELOW 50,000 DO NOT LEARN HOW TO SWIM AND DROWNING IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH FOR ALL CHILDREN. SWIMRVA IS WORKING TO STOP THE CYCLE OF NON-SWIMMING GIVING RICHMOND RESIDENTS AN AVENUE FOR HEALTH EQUITY IN ALL CORNERS OF THE OUR REGION.

LEARN TO SWIM: TEACH EVERY SECOND GRADE CHILD IN RICHMOND HOW TO SWIM. WE PROVIDE COST FREE SWIMMING LESSONS TO SECOND GRADERS IN 5 JURISDICTIONS THROUGHOUT THE RICHMOND REGION. SWIMRVA IS WORKING TO IMPLEMENT ALONG WITH PARTNER AGENCIES A SEVEN LESSON CURRICULUM IN 138 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ACROSS 9 JURISDICTIONS. THIS FISCAL YEAR 1,436 SECOND GRADE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED FROM 14 SCHOOLS. 977 CHILDREN LOST THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FROM 7 SCHOOLS. SINCE INCEPTION, SWIMRVA HAS TAUGHT CHILDREN THROUGH THE COST FREE PROGRAM. THE NEED IS STAGGERING AS 78% OF CHILDREN IN THE US FROM HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOME UNDER 50,000 WILL NEVER LEARN TO SWIM. DROWNING IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH FOR KIDS UNDER 14 AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN DROWN AT RATES FIVE TIMES THAT OF THE REST OF THE POPULATION.

SWIMRVA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: THE ORGANIZATION IS WORKING WITH THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO GAIN COURSE ACCREDITATION FOR THE PROFESSIONAL RESCUER AS ACCREDITED COURSEWORK IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION. PILOT PROGRAMMING IS UNDERWAY IN CHESTERFIELD AND HENRICO COUNTIES. SWIMRVA HAS GROWN SAFETY TRAINING COURSES AND INCREASED THE WORKFORCE SUPPLY OF LIFEGUARDS AND AQUATIC PROFESSIONALS. THE SAFETY SCHOOL COMBINES BOTH AQUATIC PROFESSIONAL SAFETY WITH AQUATIC FACILITY MANAGEMENT SKILLS TRAINING. THE COMBINATION SERVES WITH THE GOAL TO IMPROVE THE AQUATIC PROFESSIONAL'S CORE COMPETENCIES THROUGHOUT THE RICHMOND REGION.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS: CREATING HEALTH EQUITY THROUGH AQUATICS. THE ORGANIZATION IS WORKING TO CREATE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AQUATICS THROUGHOUT THE REGION. HISTORICALLY, AQUATICS HAVE BEEN EXCLUSIVE DUE TO FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL LIMITATIONS. SWIMRVA IS WORKING TO ENSURE EVERY RICHMONDER HAS ACCESS TO BE ACTIVE THROUGH AQUATIC OPPORTUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION HAS A STRONG ENGAGEMENT WITH SENIORS THROUGHOUT THE REGION. LAST YEAR, SWIMRVA SERVED OVER 600 SENIORS A WEEK WITH OVER 70 GROUP EXERCISE COURSES A WEEK. THE ORGANIZATION IS FIGHTING SENIOR ISOLATION AND WORKING TO ENSURE OUR SENIORS LIVE YOUNGER, LONGER.

COMPETITIVE AQUATICS: THE GOAL IS TO ELEVATE COMPETITIVE AQUATICS TO BE A PREMIER REGION ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD. THE MAJOR PROGRAMS INCLUDING MASTERS SWIMMING, USA SWIMMING, WATER POLO, PARALYMPIC SWIMMING AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS HAVE ALL FOUND A HOME AND HAVE GROWN DUE TO THE ADDITION OF THE FOUNDATION'S PREMIER FACILITY. THE FACILITY ALSO SERVES TO KEEP RICHMOND FAMILIES FROM HAVING TO LEAVE THE REGION TO COMPETE AND ATTRACTS SWIMMERS FROM OUTSIDE RICHMOND. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED 19 MULTI-DAY EVENTS AND A TOTAL OF 91 DAYS OF COMPETITION DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. THE CAPSTONE EVENT WAS THE TYR PRO SWIM SERIES WHICH WAS THE FASTEST SWIM MEET EVER TO BE HELD IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.