New Partnership Goals to Educate Staten Island Second Graders to Swim — A Life-Saving, Confidence-Constructing Ability for All NYC Children

In a daring new effort to increase entry to important life abilities for New York City’s youngest residents and to shut the water security hole, the Heckscher Foundation for Children at the moment introduced a catalytic grant to help 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 present free swim instruction to over 800 second-grade college students in the course of the 2025-26 faculty 12 months.

The initiative goals to show that large-scale, low-cost, school-based swim packages may be delivered by public-private collaboration — and finally scaled throughout all 5 boroughs.

“Swimming is more than a recreational activity – it’s a life-saving skill that builds confidence and promotes equity,” mentioned 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 college students at 11 public elementary colleges within the mid-to-north Staten Island space. Through three trusted companions, college students will obtain weekly 45-minute swim classes over 8 to 10 weeks, with instruction supplied by licensed aquatic educators utilizing evidence-based curricula in the course of the faculty day.
 

• The YMCA will ship programming to college students at its Broadway department.
• The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island will present swim classes to second graders who attend native elementary colleges.
• NYC Parks will ship instruction by its Swim for Life program at Curtis High School.
  

In addition to swimming instruction, the pilot will take a look at shared monitoring instruments (by way of a YMCA-developed swim abilities app), a coordinated curriculum development, and new knowledge on talent acquisition and participation. With strong pre- and post-assessment protocols, this system expects that 95% of collaborating college students will display progress in no less than one swim talent and that greater than 80% of scholars beginning on the lowest proficiency stage will advance to the next tier by this system’s conclusion.

“Expanding access to swim instruction is a matter of public health and safety,” mentioned 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 security is a life-saving talent,” mentioned 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,” mentioned 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,” mentioned 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,” mentioned Council Member David Carr of District 50.

The Heckscher Foundation hopes this pilot will encourage replication in different boroughs—and function a name to motion for college districts, funders, and neighborhood companions to make water security a regular a part of elementary training throughout New York City.