In a bold new effort to expand access to essential life skills for New York City’s youngest residents and to close the water safety gap, the Heckscher Foundation for Children today announced a catalytic grant to support 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 provide free swim instruction to over 800 second-grade students during the 2025-26 school year.

The initiative aims to prove that large-scale, low-cost, school-based swim programs can be delivered through public-private collaboration -- and ultimately scaled across all five boroughs.

“Swimming is more than a recreational activity - it’s a life-saving skill that builds confidence and promotes equity,” said 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 students at 11 public elementary schools in the mid-to-north Staten Island area. Through three trusted partners, students will receive weekly 45-minute swim lessons over 8 to 10 weeks, with instruction provided by certified aquatic educators using evidence-based curricula during the school day.
 

• The YMCA will deliver programming to students at its Broadway branch.
• The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island will provide swim lessons to second graders who attend local elementary schools.
• NYC Parks will deliver instruction through its Swim for Life program at Curtis High School.
   

In addition to swimming instruction, the pilot will test shared tracking tools (via a YMCA-developed swim skills app), a coordinated curriculum progression, and new data on skill acquisition and participation. With robust pre- and post-assessment protocols, the program expects that 95% of participating students will demonstrate progress in at least one swim skill and that more than 80% of students starting at the lowest proficiency level will advance to a higher tier by the program’s conclusion.

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

The Heckscher Foundation hopes this pilot will inspire replication in other boroughs—and serve as a call to action for school districts, funders, and community partners to make water safety a standard part of elementary education across New York City.