FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, February 26, 2007 Contacts: Justin Gural (802-859-2102 / [email protected]) Jamie Fabos (719-866-2340 / [email protected])

USA SWIMMING LAUNCHES MAKE A SPLASH CAMPAIGN Organization Aims to Reduce Childhood Drownings, Fight Obesity

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –The Make a Splash campaign, a major public service initiative of USA Swimming, will launch today. The campaign is aimed at decreasing the number of drowning accidents in the U.S., fostering greater di - versity in the sport and encouraging people of all ages to embrace swimming as a direct route to a healthier lifestyle. The first phase of the Make a Splash campaign will be executed through a number of new programs and partnerships.

Nine people drown in the U.S. every day, and drowning is a leading cause of injury-related death for American children. African-American children are considered especially at risk, as they experience drowning rates that are nearly triple the national average . USA Swimming believes that the most effective way to reduce drownings is by ensuring that all chil - dren learn to swim.

In addition, the Make a Splash campaign will promote swimming as a healthy activity that can increase fitness and thereby reduce the risk of more than 30 obesity-related illnesses. Today’s children are the most inactive in history , and as a result, 1-in-3 children world-wide are at risk for obesity-related illnesses.

“The Make a Splash campaign has identified some very curable epidemics in our society, in drowning and a lack of physical fitness,” said Chuck Wielgus, USA Swimming’s executive director. “To me, the most exciting aspect of this campaign is that we are taking on a major effort to use our sport to help improve the quality of people’s lives and to help make communities better. In doing this, we are also going to ensure that the sport of swimming becomes increas - ingly relevant in American society.”

The comprehensive program includes the announcement of a national spokesperson, awareness-raising promotions surrounding a major motion picture, a retail partnership, an in-school education program, and the opportunity to spon - sor swim lessons for at-risk children. The campaign’s elements are detailed below.

USA Swimming Names Spokespeople USA Swimming has named Jim Ellis and five-time Olympic medalist Janet Evans as spokespeople for the Make a Splash campaign. Ellis is a USA Swimming coach and the subject of the Lionsgate film, PRIDE, opening March 23. The biopic stars Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard (Crash, Hustle & Flow), who plays Ellis, and Bernie Mac (Ocean’s 11, Ocean’s 12) as the janitor who helps shape his program. The film chronicles Ellis’ life as a charismatic schoolteacher in the 1970s who changed lives forever when he founded an African-American swim team in one of Philadelphia’s roughest neighborhoods.

“Swimming for me has always been an outlet for positive experiences, and I’ve seen the impact first-hand that it can have on one’s life,” said Ellis. “From making sure that our kids are safe in and around the water, especially in ethnic communities, to sharing the joy and fitness benefits it offers, swimming really can make a difference. When I first began coaching at the Philadelphia Department of Recreation, we gave kids the opportunity to try something new, a sport they didn’t have the opportunity to experience on their own. Providing kids with these life-changing and potentially life-saving skills is what motivated me to make a difference. Now, through the Make a Splash program, everyone has the opportu - nity to make a difference.”

A three-time Olympian, Evans is the owner of five Olympic medals, four of which are gold. Her world records in three distance freestyle events have stood for nearly 20 years. A native Californian, Evans is a successful motivational speaker and mother to a 3-month old baby girl. Exclusive Pre-Release Screenings of PRIDE Together with Lionsgate, USA Swimming will host 27 pre-premiere screenings of PRIDE in swimming communities across the nation. The screenings will take place between February 26 and March 1.

Screening markets include Atlanta, Austin, , Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Springs, Colo., Dal - las, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Minn., New York, Orlando, Fla., Phoenix, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Ore., Sacramento, Calif., St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Fla., , D.C. ** Media interested in attending the screenings should contact Justin Gural at [email protected] for details..

Sponsor a Swim Lesson USA Swimming and Speedo have teamed with Sports Authority to donate a portion of Speedo sales during the month of March to the Make a Splash Sponsor a Swim Lesson program. The program will provide swimming lessons to at-risk kids in select communities who otherwise could not afford them.

Make a Splash Heroes Any successful public service campaign depends heavily on its grassroots army. The Make a Splash campaign is working to identify people who have made a difference through the sport of swimming. Through education, motivational coaching or life-saving rescues, these local heroes truly embody the Make a Splash initiative. Heroes will be recognized on the program web site, and in their local communities. USA Swimming is encouraging the members of the general public to nominate their own local heroes at makeasplash.org.

Make a Splash In School USA Swimming has teamed with Discovery Education to spread the message of water safety to kids in 25,000 schools across the USA this spring. Schools and PTAs will receive educational materials with water-safety curriculum for incorpo - ration into lesson plans this swim season.

The Icon Supporters can show their commitment to the cause by wearing the Make a Splash water drop. Make a Splash-branded products are available at makeasplash.org. A portion of proceeds from all sales will be donated back to the campaign.

Ten Ways to Get Involved USA Swimming offers several avenues for people to get involved in the Make a Splash program. By visiting the program website, makeasplash.org, members of the public can help themselves, their families, and even sponsor a swim lesson for a child who could otherwise not afford it.

1. Take the first step and find a place to learn to swim, and then help every member of your family to become safe in the water. 2. Create the opportunity for an at-risk child to learn to swim by sponsoring a swim lesson. 3. Donate to the campaign and show your support when you purchase a Make a Splash product from the online store. 4. Purchase Speedo “Begin to Swim” products at The Sports Authority stores between March 8 and April 1. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Make a Splash campaign. 5. Introduce swimming as a regular part of your exercise routine. 6. Download the Make a Splash In School materials and teach your kids and their classmates about water safety. 7. Find and join a learn-to-swim or competitive swim program at any of 2,700 USA Swimming clubs across the country. Makeasplash.org offers a searchable database of programs. 8. Download the USA Swimming Water Watcher Card for your next pool party or social gathering, to ensure that a responsible adult always has an eye on the pool. 9. Talk about the program and encourage others to get involved. 10. Nominate your “local hero” on the Make a Splash website. Hispanic. Statistics

Drowning Statistics o Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children between the age of one and 14. (Centers for Disease Control, 2003) o Nine people drown in the every day. (CDC) o Two-thirds of all drownings occur between May and August. (Orange County Fire Authority) o Approximately 75% of child drownings occur because of a lapse of adult supervision of less than five minutes. o African-American children between the ages of five and 19 are 2.6 times more likely to drown than Caucasian children in the same age group. (Centers for Disease Control, 2003) o In the swimming pool, African-American boys, between the ages of 5-19 are 12-15 times more likely to drown than their Caucasian peers. (National Institute of Health, 2001) o Among 1-year-olds, drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death and the second leading cause of death overall. (National Institute of Health 2006) o Less than 1% of USA Swimming’s nearly 300,000 members are African-American, and less than 3% are Hispanic.

Obesity / Overweight Statistics o About 31% of U.S. children are overweight or at risk of becoming so, according to the CDC. (USA Today, 12/05) o The percentage of young people who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980. o Over 9 million young people between the ages of 6-19 are considered overweight. (National Center for Health Statistics-CDC) o Approximately 127 million adults in the U.S. are overweight. 60 Million are obese. (American Obesity Association 2002) o Obesity increases the risk of illness from about 30 serious medical conditions (AOA 2002) o One CDC study found that roughly three out of five U.S. kids aged 9 to 13 don't participate in organized sports outside of school. About one out of four kids who took part in the study hadn't exercised at all in the prior week. o 64.5 percent of adults over the age of 20 are overweight, 60 million are obese. (AOA 2002) Make a Splash Heroes The Rescuers

Gary Hall, Jr., Miami Beach, Fla. – Nicole Jarvis, Riverwoods, Ill. – Nicole Three-time Olympian Gary Hall Jr. Jarvis, 13, was vacationing with her fam - could easily fall into both categories of ily in and was out enjoying the heroes. As a “rescuer,” Gary and his lake when she heard cries for help. A sister Bebe bravely fought off an at - young boy was struggling to stay afloat tacking shark while spear fishing in the about 75 yards from shore. Nicole asked her mom if Keys. After the shark bit his sis - she could help. A member of the Coho Swim Club ter on the arm, Gary punched and kicked the animal for six years, she grabbed an inner tube and dashed until Bebe could load and shoot the spear gun. The into the water. Upon reaching the boy, Nicole made injured animal retreated, and the two returned safely a scary discovery—the boy’s mother was holding his to shore. As a teacher, Gary is active with the Na - shoulders and her face was submerged. She had tional Diabetes Foundation, and speaks to kids af - stopped breathing. Nicole tried to calm the boy by flicted with the disease. As a diabetes sufferer maintaining eye contact and talking to him, but there himself, Gary encourages kids to take the disease was no way she could lift the mother onto the tube. seriously and to take care of themselves, but also Luckily, an off-duty paramedic was nearby. Other encourages them to stay active and not to let the observers were able to assist and call 911 while disease sideline them. "If I'm able to compete with Nicole swam the boy in to shore. the best athletes in the world in Olympic competi - tion, they're capable of competing on the soccer Port Angeles Swim Club Members: Linda team or to do whatever they want to do," he says. Crowley, Brad Hoine, Tracy Moore, Eric Morris, Pete VanRossen, Port Angeles, Wash. – On Feb - Hannah Bernui, – Our youngest Make ruary 7, 2005, during a basic life saving class and a Splash hero is 6-year-old Hannah Bernui of Ten - swim club workout, a local citizen suffered a mas - nessee. Hannah, who started swim lessons at age sive heart attack in the community pool. Tracy, Pete, 2, saved her soccer teammate from drowning during and Eric recognized the swimmer was in trouble, a back yard pool party. When Hannah saw the rescued him from the pool and performed CPR until young girl, who couldn't swim, jump off the diving EMS arrived. Brad, a high school student and com - board, she immediately sprung into action. "Once I petitive swimmer, and Linda teamed up to manage saw her, I kind of swam to her and got her at the the swim kids until the emergency was over. Gor - waist," she said. "We both came up and down. I got don Gibbs lived, and after an emergency double by - her to the side. She was kind of flopping like crazy." pass, personally thanked the PASC team for their Also deserving of Make a Splash recognition is Han - life-saving actions. nah’s mother, Melinda. A mother of seven, Melinda said that her children take lessons "just for life Trent Popovich, San Luis Obispo, safety. It's so easy for one of them to get lost in the Calif. - The 13-year-old competitive middle of a big swimming pool." swimmer was enjoying a particularly ac - tive day of surfing off the Central Cali - Pat Cary, San Clemente, Calif. – Pat Cary be - fornia coast when he heard the cries of came a lifeguard at San Clemente State Beach at two young girls. Popovich, who started age 16, and in his first year made as many as 20 swimming at age three, paddled to the rescues in one day on the beach. Each year, Pat girls and lifted them both onto his board. took on more responsibility as a lifeguard, including After waiting for the tide to release them, he swam teaching junior lifeguard classes. In addition to his the hysterical girls, ages 8 and 10, in to safety. After heroics at the beach, Pat is headed for heroics on the successful rescue, Trent told his mother, “You al - the international stage. After finishing 5th at the ways told me that knowing how to swim would 2006 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National someday save my life, or the life of someone else. I Championships, he was selected to the U.S. Pan just didn’t think I’d be 13 when it did.” Trent was American Games Team. He will represent the U.S. honored recently with the United States Lifesaving at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Association’s Heroic Act Award. Brazil this summer. Jecoa Simmons and Chris Nowviskie, Daytona Make a Splash Heroes Beach, Fla . - Jecoa and Chris were awarded the The Teachers Medal of Valor in November of 2004 after the two lifeguards successfully rescued a family from two capsized boats off the Florida coast during one of Lindy Boatman, Douglasville, Ga. – the state's infamous thunderstorms. With little con - As a swim instructor and coach in cern for their own well-being, the two men rode a Douglasville, Ga., Lindy Boatman jetski into the pounding surf and dodged lightning started the county’s first recreational bolts en route to a stranded father, his 14-year-old swim team in 1994. She has taught son and their distressed catamaran. With both swim lessons in the county for 16 safely in the basket, the two men were not finished. years to over 700 swimmers, and has A 12-year-old girl had ended up separated from her grown the small swim team to a successful program family, and was clinging precariously to a second incorporating more than 70 swimmers. Holding a catamaran, which had by then been carried 1/2 mile Masters degree in Special Education with a concen - away in the high surf. Chris and Jecoa and the tration in Emotional Behavioral Disorders and Physi - weighted down jetski traveled to the girl, who fell cal Disabilities, Lindy was able to put her expertise into Jecoa's arms, and was transported safely back to work with one swimmer with Downs Syndrome. to shore. For their selfless bravery and courage Under her guidance, the swimmer enjoyed the sport under pressure, USA Swimming is proud to recog - so much and progressed at such an impressive rate, nize Chris Nowviskie and Jecoa Simmons as Cen - that he entered the Regional Special Olympics in tral Florida's Make a Splash heroes. Cobb County in 2006. The 19-year old swimmer competed in the freestyle and breaststroke and took 2nd and 3rd place respectively.

Jane Brewer, Forrest Park, Ga. – Jane Brewer, or “Ms. Jane,” taught thousands of infants, children and adults to swim for almost 40 years in Forrest Park, Ga. A special education teacher and a visual impairment specialist who gave lessons in her back - yard pool, Jane believed every child, regardless of disability, should learn to be safe around the water and enjoy the benefits of swimming. With a “Safety- first” attitude, Jane focused on using the sport of swimming to build confidence and enhance motor skills and cognitive development in her swimmers. “I am biased, of course,” said her son, Bobby, “but my mom is truly a patron saint of learn-to-swim teachers.”

Jeff Krieger, Clearwater, Fla. – A spe - cial needs swimming instructor, Jeff Krieger has spent 30 years helping people overcome aquatic phobias and learn to enjoy the water. Currently the aquatic, camp and athletic director at the Gold Meir/Kent Jewish Center, Jeff runs a pro - gram called Strategies Overcoming Aquatic Phobias, or S.O.A.P. Through the program, Jeff has helped count - less people, as young as 4 and as old as 84, overcome their debilitating fear of the water. The program com - Make a Splash Heroes may be bines group and individual counseling/coaching and nominated by sending an email aqua phobic specific water adjustment skills along with with their story, contact traditional learn to swim activities. The program, which information and photograph to has been accepted by the Tampa area Red Cross, [email protected] aims to help people change their lives forever. Betty Miles, Colrain, Mass . – A Jim Pingry, Winona, Minn. – As the aquatic direc - resident of Colrain for 37 years, Betty tor of the YMCA and coach of the YMCA WinFins in serves as lifeguard and swim instructor Winona, Minn., Jim Pingry estimates that he’s for the Greenfield, Mass., Community taught 10,000 kids how to swim. Jim started giving YMCA, a position she’s held for the lessons at age 15, and has built the local swim team past 18 years. grandfather who im - to a successful group of 100 kids. Jim and his staff pressed on me the importance of becoming safe in require only that swimmers be able to swim one and around the water—swimming, boating, playing length of the pool in order to make the team, and will and participating in water sports. As parents to shape their strokes and swimming futures from three children, Betty and her husband, Walker were there. While fostering the competitive spirit among active swim parents. As her children grew, and she his swimmers, Pingry emphasizes fun in the sport became more active with the YMCA, Betty became and believes that swimming offers much more than increasingly aware of the need for water safety train - medals and ribbons. “You give kids instruction and ing and, sadly to say, that need hit close to home fundamentals in a sport and teach them other things when the son of one of my good friends and neigh - too,” said Pingry, “like discipline, sportsmanship and bors was killed at the age of 19 in a diving accident. goal setting.” This helped motivate Betty to successfully coordi - nate the YMCA SPLASH (learn to swim) week, Alison Terry & Alan Voisard, San which ran from 1990-2003. In the spring of 2000, Diego, Calif. – Married couple Alison she began visiting area preschools, nursery schools, Terry and Alan Voisard have been a part playgroups, etc. presenting the Aquatic Safety of the San Diego Lifeguard community Awareness Program, a classroom-based water for several years both as employees and safety program geared to preschoolers. The pro - as volunteers. In addition, they provide gram was designed to teach water safety to children swimming lessons within their commu - and through them reach the adults in their lives to nity. The two have been heavily involved help everyone “play safe and stay safe in and with the Drowning Prevention Programs around the water.” Beginning with two presentations in San Diego, which offer free swim les - at the YMCA preschool in 2000, the program has sons to under-serviced youth. This year, grown to 35 presentations at 26 facilities reaching a they helped to organize the San Diego total of 545 children in the spring of 2006. Super Run on February 3rd which bene - fited the Drowning Prevention Programs. Darin Masselink, Holland, Mich. - As supervisor of A former National Team swimmer, Terry has a pas - fitness and recreation at the Holland Aquatic Center, sion for increasing diversity in the sport. She served Darin has contributed countless hours to promoting on the USA Swimming National Out-reach Commit - water safety in his lake-side community. In May tee dedicated to identifying and removing barriers 2006, Darin initiated the city’s first annual Water that inhibit the growth of diversity in the sport. Terry Safety Community Day. The event is dedicated to used the national media attention she received dur - educating the public on ways to stay safe in and ing her bid to make the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team to around the water. In addition, Darin organized activi - raise awareness of the statistics associated with not ties such a Water Safety Pledge Board, Red Cross knowing how to swim as well as the disproportionate water safety talks and safe kayaking, snorkeling and risks to minority children. Said Terry, “The world's 70 scuba demonstrations. percent water. For God's sake, we should know what to do if we get in it.”

Alan has been participating in distance open water swimming as a way of raising money for Drowning Prevention programs. He recently swam 100 miles in the bay in San Diego over a week long period to raise money for the cause. He embarked on the marathon task to raise funds to support San Diego inner-city swimming programs that are in jeopardy of being disbanded because of the city's strapped fi - nancial state. “I believe all people should have an opportunity to enjoy some things that helped me in life,” Voisard said. He has raised $28,000 through donations . The bulk of the money will go toward two programs – Learn to Swim for Free and Swim Lessons as Physical Education.

This summer he plans to attempt three more swims this summer to raise money for drowning prevention programs: Swim around Manhattan, Catalina (for the second time) and Catalina. Alan is also the Vice President of the San Diego Surf Life Saving Associ - ation.

Bob Walthour II, Carmel, Calif. – For 50 years Bob Walthour III has coached nearly 10,000 students and athletes from Monterey County. He served as the athletic director, head football, wrestling, track, swimming and diving coach at Carmel High School, where he was instrumental in building the aquatics program. Carmel High remains the only school in the county to require students to learn to swim in order to graduate. In the year 2000 Bob was se - lected by The Monterey County Herald as the "Coach of the Century." The Carmel Unified School District is building the Bob Walthour Community Pool which is expected to open in the spring of 2008.

Make a Splash Heroes may be nominated by sending an email with their story, contact information and photograph to [email protected]