Support Grants for Gear

Aquatic Capital of America (ACOA) recognizes the importance of aquatics to our city. It  highlights the achievements of athletes and coaches in a range of aquatic sports; ensures that more kids in Long Beach are water safe through subsidized classes where kids learn to float, swim to the side of the pool, and, hopefully, develop a love of the water; and, finally, and most dear to my heart, provides financial support to high school swimmers in need, a program I've spearheaded. 

Grants for Gear grew out of my observation that some of the swimmers on my daughter's high school team lacked practice suits. It occurred to me that if they didn't have practice suits that paying for the required team suit, shirt, and cap might also be a challenge. ACOA provided space for me to develop this idea into "Grants for Gear" a program we rolled out on a limited basis last year that provides subsidies for students in need. 

The way the program is set up guarantees privacy (Students apply directly to ACOA and ACOA pays the vendor providing their team suits etc. They receive their gear when everyone else does) and although some teams have robust booster clubs, it takes a small bit of the financial pressure off both booster clubs and families. Swimming has been an important part of my life and in my own small way, with the support of ACOA, I hope to contribute to making sure every one who wants to can swim!