News

New York, NY – September 16, 2025 — In a bold new effort to expand access to essential life skills for New York City’s youngest residents and to close the water safety gap, the Heckscher Foundation for Children today announced a catalytic grant to support a collaborative pilot swim program on Staten Island. This partnership — between the YMCA of Greater New York, the JCC of Staten Island, and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation — will provide free swim instruction to over 800 second-grade students during the 2025-26 school year.

The initiative aims to prove that large-scale, low-cost, school-based swim programs can be delivered through public-private collaboration — and ultimately scaled across all five boroughs.

“Swimming is more than a recreational activity – it’s a life-saving skill that builds confidence and promotes equity,” said Peter Sloane, Chairman and CEO of the Heckscher Foundation for Children. “Too many children in low-income communities grow up without this basic competence. Our role has been to forge partnerships that can change that trajectory. We see this Staten Island pilot as the blueprint for a citywide solution – delivered at just $333 per student.”

The pilot will serve students at 11 public elementary schools in the mid-to-north Staten Island area. Through three trusted partners, students will receive weekly 45-minute swim lessons over 8 to 10 weeks, with instruction provided by certified aquatic educators using evidence-based curricula during the school day.

• The YMCA will deliver programming to students at its Broadway branch.

• The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island will provide swim lessons to second graders who attend local elementary schools.

• NYC Parks will deliver instruction through its Swim for Life program at Curtis High School.

In addition to swimming instruction, the pilot will test shared tracking tools (via a YMCA-developed swim skills app), a coordinated curriculum progression, and new data on skill acquisition and participation. With robust pre- and post-assessment protocols, the program expects that 95% of participating students will demonstrate progress in at least one swim skill and that more than 80% of students starting at the lowest proficiency level will advance to a higher tier by the program’s conclusion.

“Expanding access to swim instruction is a matter of public health and safety,” said Sharon Greenberger, President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York. “The Heckscher Foundation for Children provided crucial leadership and support in helping the Y to launch Second Grade Swim in 2006. Since then, we’ve seen the transformative power of Second Grade Swim across the city, and we’re proud to partner with the Foundation, the JCC of Staten Island, the NYC Parks Department, and elementary schools across Staten Island to build on that legacy.”

“Water safety is a life-saving skill,” said Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC of Staten Island. “We are grateful to the Heckscher Foundation for Children for generously funding this program that teaches children to be safe while having fun in the water.”

“At NYC Parks, we believe every child should have the opportunity to learn how to swim—it’s a vital skill that can save lives and unlock lifelong confidence and joy,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa. “This pilot program represents the best of what public-private partnership can achieve, and we’re proud to bring our Swim for Life program to the table. Together with the Heckscher Foundation, YMCA, and JCC, we’re not just teaching swim strokes—we’re investing in the safety, health, and futures of New York City children.”

“Living on Staten Island means our students are never far from water — whether it’s beaches, pools, or waterways. Yet, drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for children. By teaching swimming early, the district is taking a proactive step toward preventing tragedies, empowering students, and building lifelong healthy habits,” said Dr. Roderick Palton, Superintendent of District 31. “This program is about more than learning how to swim — it’s about giving our children the confidence to be safe, the skills to protect themselves, and the opportunity to enjoy the water without fear. We are literally giving our students a skill that could one day save their lives.”

“Learning to swim is a basic life skill that every child in New York City should have access to. It is about safety, it is about equity, and it is about giving our young people confidence,” said Council Member Kamillah M. Hanks of District 49. “I am proud that Staten Island is at the forefront of this effort, and I applaud the Heckscher Foundation and our local partners for making this vital investment in the well-being of our children.”

“I’m honored the Heckscher Foundation and its partners have chosen Staten Island for this pilot. Being an island with open waterfront access and community pools, it makes sense that every borough resident should learn to swim, and this program combines life skills, safety skills, athleticism, and fun all in one curriculum,” said Council Member David Carr of District 50.

The Heckscher Foundation hopes this pilot will inspire replication in other boroughs—and serve as a call to action for school districts, funders, and community partners to make water safety a standard part of elementary education across New York City.

About the Heckscher Foundation for Children
The Heckscher Foundation for Children funds innovative, results-driven programs and partnerships that level the playing field for underserved youth. The Heckscher Foundation’s venture philanthropy approach prioritizes catalytic investments that leverage public and private resources toward lasting systemic change.

About the YMCA of Greater New York
For more than 170 years, the YMCA of Greater New York has been where New Yorkers find their purpose, their people, and their place. As New York City’s leading nonprofit health and well-being organization, the Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from, by providing access and opportunities for all to learn, grow, and thrive. We provide a place to play, to be healthy, and to give back. We give parents childcare, young adults job training, seniors a way to connect, and children a safe place to go. By bringing people together from different backgrounds, perspectives, and generations, the Y improves overall health and well-being, ignites youth empowerment, and connects and supports diverse communities across New York City. Follow the Y on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ymcanyc.

About the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island
The Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center of Staten Island was founded in 1929 with the goal of creating a home for the Jewish community by offering social, recreational, and educational activities. Over time, that mission expanded and the JCC has become a true community center—not just for the Jewish community, but for the entirety of Staten Island. Programs serve the needs of the Staten Island community and are constantly expanding to meet new demand. The JCC serves people of all walks of life, from young children to seniors and everyone in between by offering services that help improve the quality of life for people on Staten Island and beyond. The JCC strives to help those in need as well as provide recreational and educational opportunities for members. The JCC of Staten Island is dedicated to encouraging harmony throughout the community by providing facilities and programs that are open to all regardless of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. Everyone is welcome at the JCC. Follow the JCC on Facebook and Instagram @JCCofStatenIsland.

About the NYC Parks’ Swim for Life Program
Swim for Life, one of NYC Parks’ signature water safety programs, is offered to second graders from New York City’s public school. Through a series of free, ten-week sessions, Swim for Life intends to reduce the high incidence of drowning, particularly among minority children, by teaching vital water safety skills and promoting lifelong fitness habits. Each program consists of one hour of swim instruction per week as part of the school day, and culminates in a swim evaluation to ensure that students have successfully learned basic skills. Sessions run from October to June in all five boroughs.

NYC Parks free swimming classes taught more than 13,000 young people how to swim in FY24, saving families hundreds of dollars on swimming classes every year and laying the foundation for a lifetime of water safety. More than 6,800 people were served last year as part of the city’s Learn to Swim program at indoor pools, and more than 6,600 people took part in the Swim for Life program. About 18,000 people participated in swim programming throughout the year with NYC Parks – including Senior Splash and swim team programs in addition to swimming lessons for children.