Swim With Purpose Joins Henderson County Family YMCA and Schools to Expand Free Water Safety Program to 490 Third Graders
Frankfort, KY — September 28, 2026 — Swim With Purpose, a charitable initiative dedicated to expanding access to swimming and water safety education, has joined the Henderson County Family YMCA and Henderson County Schools as a new funding partner of the county's established third-grade swim program.
The program provides free swimming and water safety instruction to approximately 490 third-grade students from nine Henderson County elementary schools beginning this month and continuing through March 2027. Each school is participating in a four-day program at the Henderson County Family YMCA, with transportation provided to and from school.
Known locally as the Safety Around Water (S.A.W.) program, the initiative has been serving Henderson County third graders for the past three consecutive years. The Henderson County Family YMCA and Henderson County Schools have worked with community partners to make the program available at no cost to students and families.
Students will learn foundational swimming skills along with essential water safety practices related to pools, boating and life jackets. The program is designed to give children practical skills and experience that can help them stay safer around water.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury death among children ages 5 to 14.
"We are proud to be part of a program that Henderson County has already built and proven successful," said Sam Taylor, Chairman and Co-Founder of Swim With Purpose. "There is tremendous value in what the YMCA, Henderson County Schools and the community have created and we look forward to helping expand on that success."
Jason Beasley, CEO and Executive Director of the Henderson County Family YMCA, said, "We are incredibly grateful for the support and partnership of Swim With Purpose and excited about what we can accomplish together. Here in Henderson County, we've seen firsthand what is possible when a YMCA, a school district, and community partners work together to make water safety education a priority for children. What excites me most about this partnership is the opportunity to share what we've learned and the success we've experienced in Henderson. I hope our story can serve as an example and inspire other communities and school districts across Kentucky to build similar partnerships so that more children have access to potentially life-saving swim instruction."
According to Dr. Bob Lawson, Superintendent – Henderson County Schools, "The third-grade swim program has been a special part of our community since it began in 1988. After a 16-year break, we were excited to see the program return in 2024. Today, every Henderson County Schools third grader has the opportunity to participate in this week-long program. We are so grateful for the community partnership that makes this possible and allows us to provide this experience to every one of our elementary schools. Providing our students with opportunities to learn important water safety skills, build confidence and experience something new is exactly what we mean when we say we are committed to providing extraordinary educational opportunities for every student."
Expanding Access to Water Safety Education
Earlier this year, Swim With Purpose announced a new chapter in its original mission by dedicating approximately $400,000 in donor-raised funds to providing free swimming and water safety education throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Originally raised to support restoration of the indoor aquatic facility at Kentucky State University (KSU), the funds are now being invested in community-based programs that deliver immediate and lasting impact.
Through partnerships with organizations such as the YMCA of Central Kentucky and Frankfort Independent Schools, Swim With Purpose is helping bring water safety education directly to children in the communities where they live and learn. The ongoing Frankfort Swims program demonstrates the power of that approach: bringing community partners together to give local children access to skills that can help keep them safer around water for years to come.
About Swim With Purpose
Swim With Purpose (SWP) is a charitable fund managed by the Blue Grass Community Foundation. Founded by AV industry executive and passionate swimmer Sam Taylor, and endorsed by Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps and the Michael Phelps Foundation, SWP is focused on providing free swim lessons and water safety programs for students across Kentucky. Through strategic partnerships and community-based programming, Swim With Purpose is helping create safer, healthier and more inclusive opportunities for swimming education.