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20th Anniversary

Fully Clothed and Ready: The Test That Marks a Swimmer’s Safety Milestone

Before a single stroke of Learn to Swim, there is a test. Not a pool skills check in a swimsuit and goggles — a fully clothed challenge. Shirts, shorts, the whole outfit, right into the water. It looks strange from the deck. It is anything but random. This is how Swim Strong Foundation (SSF) marks a child's readiness for the next chapter: Learn to Swim. And on this day, Founder & Executive Director Shawn Slevin was on deck to walk the...

October 15, 202620th Anniversary, Blog, VideosComments OffRead more...
Flyer for the Elite Amenity 5K on June 27, 2026 at 9:00 AM in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, benefiting Swim Strong Foundation, with a QR code to register and Bolt Fitness, Elite Amenity Management and Swim Strong logos.

Motion, Community, and Water Safety: Recapping the Elite Amenity 5K

On June 27, runners and walkers gathered at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park for the Elite Amenity 5K, hosted by Elite Amenity Management in support of Swim Strong Foundation. It was a morning built around movement, community, and purpose — and the energy on the course showed it. Fitness and water safety, hand in hand One thing came up again and again when we spoke with participants after the race: running and swimming aren't separate pursuits — they build on each other. Several runners...

August 12, 202620th Anniversary, Articles, Blog, Events, VideosComments OffRead more...

Five Years Later: Ed Accura Returns With a New Message on Water Safety

Five years ago, at Swim Strong Foundation's 15th Anniversary celebration, filmmaker and water safety advocate Ed Accura stood up and shared a few words about the road ahead. Ed — the producer behind "Blacks Can't Swim" and co-founder of the Black Swim Association in the UK — had spent years working to shift how his community talks about swimming, fear, and the water. That night, he told us: “Working with organizations like Swim Strong Foundation has made it possible for us to...

August 11, 202615th Anniversary, 20th Anniversary, Articles, Blog, VideosComments OffRead more...

We Do Good… Together: A Thank You Twenty Years in the Making

Twenty years ago, Swim Strong Foundation opened its doors with a simple but powerful belief — that every person in New York City deserves to feel safe in, on, and around water. Not just children from well-resourced families. Everyone. That belief hasn't changed. What has changed is the number of people who decided to be part of making it real. This is a thank you to all of them. Building a program that has reached 135,000+ students through Know Before You Go!®...

August 10, 202620th Anniversary, Articles, Blog, VideosComments OffRead more...

Lace Up and Make a Difference: Join the Elite Amenity 5K Run Benefiting Swim Strong Foundation

Lace up your running shoes and be part of something bigger than the finish line. The Elite Amenity 5K Run is a fun and inspiring community race — and this year, every step you take benefits Swim Strong Foundation's life-saving mission. Whether you run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, your participation helps expand access to essential water safety education, affordable swim instruction, and drowning prevention programs right here in New York City. Why This Race Matters Water safety isn't just about knowing...

June 5, 202620th Anniversary, Articles, Blog, EventsComments OffRead more...