Children’s Swim Program Donations For Monroe County

Celebration of the Sea Foundation & Monroe County Announce Generous Water Sports and Swim Aid Equipment Donations to Support Local Florida Keys Community Swim Programs, Schools & Community Services. Florida Keys Educational, Conservation & Social Services Programs Gather To Celebrate Donation Being Made to Monroe County.

Sea Foundation and Monroe County donated hundreds of much needed water sports, snorkel gear, swim aids, toys, shoes and other related items to community organizations and local schools. The donations were distributed during a special event hosted by Monroe County Mayor, Holly Raschein, and City of Layton Mayor, Bruce Halle, who also serves as Celebration of the Sea Foundation’s Treasurer and Founder and CEO of the Celebration of the Sea Foundation, Patxi Pastor, at the Jacobs Aquatic Center in Key Largo, on Thursday, February 29th at 12PM. The event was attended by collaborating organizations who received the donations including the Monroe County Parks and Beaches, Key Largo School, Ocean Studies School, Coral Shores High School, Founders Park Ron Levy Aquatic Center, Boy Scouts of America’s Florida National High Adventure Sea Base, Marine Lab, Jr. Scientists in the Sea, Marine Mammal Rescue, Florida Keys Children’s Shelter, Wesley House and Samuel’s House.

“We are so grateful to the Celebration of the Sea Foundation for providing all of these amazing items for our community”, said Monroe County Mayor, Holly Raschein. “It’s so wonderful to see their generous support for all of our incredible organizations that provide these critically important learn to swim programs and other social services for our children and families”.

Keys Kids Swim is a water safety and swim lesson program that provides free swim lessons to Monroe County children. “Our learn to swim programs are extremely important for our schools and families”, said Dr. Jim Boilini, who is one of the founders of the program. “We started the program through a special partnership with Jacobs Aquatic Center, the Monroe County School District, Florida Keys Kids, and Monroe County Parks and Beaches.”

“Teaching our children water safety and the joy of swimming is so near and dear to our Foundation’s heart”, said Celebration of the Sea Foundation Founder and CEO, Patxi Pastor. “We believe it all starts here, and then providing ancillary programs such as our Ocean Heroes program which we are currently developing with the community to promote workforce development for the “Blue Economy” and environmental stewardship for our leaders of tomorrow, is a legacy we can all truly be proud of creating together. We are so grateful to Rita Case and Ron Cacciatore for their wonderful support and making these donations possible for our Foundation. We’re also extremely appreciative of the Monroe County Sheriff’s department, Sheriff Rick Ramsay and Captain David Smith for their wonderful support helping to coordinate and transport all of the donations”.

Photo Credit: Frazier Nivens
From Left To Right: Steve Scott Celebration of the Sea Foundation Advisory Board Member; Ian Koblick Founder of Marine Lab; Hannah Fisher Assistant Principal & Students from Key Largo School (Front Row); Estrella Le Mar; Jose Melendez Wesley House IT Systems Engineer; Patxi Pastor Founder & CEO Celebration of the Sea Foundation; Elmira Leto Founder Samuel’s House; Les Burke Founder Jr. Scientists in the Sea; Monroe County Mayor, Holly Raschein; City of Layton Mayor & Celebration of the Sea Foundation Treasurer, Bruce Halle; Tim Stanfill Director of Program Operations Boy Scouts of America’s Florida National High Adventure Sea Base; Aleida Jacobo CEO Wesley House; Craig Nordskog, independent Living Coordinator Wesley House; John Allen, Director Monroe County Parks & Beaches – Jacobs Aquatic Center – Founders Park Ron Levy Aquatic Center; Captain David Smith Monroe County Sheriff’s Department & Board Member of Wesley House; Dr. Jim Boilini Founder Keys Kids Swim Water Safety & Swim Lesson Programs; Tana B. Carson, PhD Keys Kids Swim, Committee Member & Florida Keys Kids Owner; Katya Andrade Office Manager – Francine Lemay Residential Counselor – Karen Martinez Residential Specialist Florida Keys Children’s Shelter; Tiffany Zepeda Assistant Principal Key Largo School; Lynda Weinstein Development Director Florida Keys Children’s Shelter.