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 THE RICHMOND REGION 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 152 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ACROSS 11 JURISDICTIONS. SINCE INCEPTION (2012), SWIMRVA HAS TAUGHT 12,564 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.

COMPETITIVE AQUATICS: THE GOAL IS TO ELEVATE COMPETITIVE AQUATICS IN THE RICHMOND REGION THROUGH INSPIRING GROWTH IN COMPETITIVE SWIMMING PROGRAMMING AND BRINGING THE NATION'S LARGEST EVENTS TO THE COMMONWEALTH. SWIMRVA'S FLAGSHIP FACILITY IS HOME TO THE 2008 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS COMPETITION POOL. THE NINE WORLD RECORDS, 21 AMERICAN RECORDS HAVE BEEN SET IN SWIMRVA'S POOL MAKING IT THE FASTEST POOL ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD. THE MAJOR PROGRAMS INCLUDING USA SWIMMING, U.S. MASTERS SWIMMING, USA WATER POLO, USA ARTISTIC SWIMMING AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS HAVE ALL FOUND A HOME WITH SWIMRVA AT THE FLAGSHIP FACILITY. SWIMRVA HOSTED 22 MULTI-DAY EVENTS AND A TOTAL OF 97 DAYS OF COMPETITION DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. THE CAPSTONE EVENT WAS THE U.S. MASTERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, WHICH WAS THE FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN AQUATIC SPORT TO BE HOSTED IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.

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.