iSWIM For Jenny Event Kick-Off at Norman and Jean Reach Park, August 10 at 10 a.m.
Miami-Dade County District 13 Commissioner donates $2,500 to the Swim for Jenny Memorial Fund for learn-to-swim scholarships at Palm Springs North Pool
Join the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade and Miami-Dade County District 13 Commissioner Esteban Bovo, Jr. on Saturday, August 10, 2013, beginning at 10 a.m. at Palm Springs North Pool, for a special event to kick-off iSwim for Jenny, a week-long fundraising event for the Swim for Jenny Memorial Fund taking place Aug. 10-16, 2013 at participating Miami-Dade Parks and community pools. Palm Springs North Pool at Norman and Jean Reach Park is located at 7901 NW 176 Street, in Miami.
The event will feature Miami-Dade County Commissioner Esteban Bovo, Jr. who graciously donated $2,500 to the Swim for Jenny Memorial Fund, the Palm Springs North youth swim team, the family of Jenny Hong Ngyuen, and other guests who will reinforce the importance of learning to swim, then countdown and cheer on the youth who are swimming laps to save lives.
The Swim for Jenny Memorial Fund was created in honor of Jenny Hong Nguyen, a 12-year old girl from South Florida who lost her life on April 16, 2011 when she entered water too deep for her swimming skills. The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade established the Swim for Jenny Memorial Fund to provide beginner learn-to-swim lessons to underserved children.
Nationally, drowning is the second-leading cause of injury-related death among children ages one to 14. Florida has the second-highest number of drowning incidents in the U.S. and Miami-Dade County leads the state in drowning deaths with an average of 45 a year.
To participate in iSwim for Jenny, download the pledge form at www.swimforjenny.org. Participating swimmers can be individuals or teams. Swimming must be done at your neighborhood lifeguard community pool** and/or one of the Miami-Dade Parks aquatic facilities/donation collection sites, listed below:
AD Barnes Pool Palm Springs North Pool
3401 SW 72 Avenue, Miami, FL 7901 NW 176 Street, Miami, FL
305-665-1626 305-558-3762
South Dade Pool (Helen Sands) Tamiami Pool
16350 SW 280 Street, Miami, FL 11201 SW 24 Street, Miami, FL
305-248-1386 305-223-7077
All donations must be turned in at one of the four approved Miami-Dade Parks' aquatic facilities/donation collection sites listed above on August 16 between 1 and 4 p.m.
**To register your swim team at a different pool than those listed above, or to register your community pool as an official site for the iSwim for Jenny, please contact Jim O'Connor at A.D. Barnes Pool at (305)665-1626**
Help take preventative action and take the pledge this summer at iSwim for Jenny. For more information, to download a pledge form, or to make a donation, please visit www.swimforjenny.org.
About The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade
The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that supports the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department's effort to further develop Miami-Dade County's world-class parks system for residents and visitors. Its mission is to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park and recreation programs for local children, adults and people with disabilities. For more information, visit www.miamidade.gov/parks_foundation.
About the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department:
Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award, winner of the 2013 Florida Governor's Sustained Excellence Award and the 2009 Florida Governor's Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade County Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,825 acres of land. It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world. Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development, and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami, Deering Estate at Cutler and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more. For information about Miami-Dade County Parks call 3-1-1, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks/.