Eight Members of 2008 U.S. Olympic Swim Team to Host Clinic for 300 New York Kids

Eight members of the 2008 Olympic swim team, including gold medalists Jason Lezak (Irvine, Calif.), Cullen Jones (New Brunswick, N.J.) and Peter Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich.), will be back in the water Saturday, November 15 at the Make a Splash Learn-to-Swim New York Day presented by the USA Swimming Foundation and Health Management Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of WellPoint. The event will be held in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation at the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Pool in Flushing, N.Y., and will feature a swim clinic that promotes water safety and the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle for New York area children.

The star-studded clinic will also feature 2008 Olympians Margaret Hoelzer (Huntsville, Ala.), Matt Grevers (Lake Forest, Ill.), Megan Jendrick (Puyallup, Wash.), Christine Magnuson (Tinley Park Ill.), and Mark Gangloff (Akron, Ohio).

More than 300 children from the New York area are slated to attend the Make a Splash Learn-to-Swim New York Day where they will have a chance to meet the Olympians, participate in a swim clinic, and learn about the importance of water safety and making healthy lifestyle choices.

"Health Management Corporation (HMC)., is focused on the prevention of disease and bringing wellness programs to our communities," said HMC president and WellPoint SVP, Joan Kennedy. "We believe the USA Swimming Foundation's program fits perfectly with our mission because in addition to promoting water safety, it encourages children to incorporate physical activity into their everyday routine, which is vital to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  We are very excited to partner with the Foundation and will continue to support important efforts, like 'Make a Splash,' to make a difference in the communities that we serve." 

Make a Splash is a national child-focused anti-drowning initiative created by The USA Swimming Foundation which operates by aligning the nation's top learn-to-swim resources in an effort to save lives. In April of 2008, USA Swimming commissioned a national, first of its kind research study through the University of Memphis that found that approximately 6 out of 10 African-American children are unable to swim, nearly twice as many as their Caucasian counterparts. Similarly, 56% of Hispanic and Latino children are unable to swim. The USA Swimming Foundation is actively working to break this cycle by providing the resources to teach these children how to swim through its Make a Splash initiative. 

"We're pleased to have HMC involved with the Make a Splash Learn-to-Swim New York Day," said Chris LaBianco, chief development officer for the USA Swimming Foundation. "As a company focused on health and wellness, they understand the importance of teaching healthy life lessons to kids at a young age, including the importance of being water safe. We look forward to seeing the kids in New York "make a splash" with the 2008 Olympians."

The learn-to-swim clinic marks the beginning of the USA Swimming Foundation's Golden Goggle Awards weekend in New York. Following Saturday's clinic, the Foundation will host a Master's Swim Clinic on Sunday, November 16 and its fifth-annual Golden Goggle Awards show at the New York Hilton on Monday, November 17. The star-studded gala honors the performances of the 2008 Olympic swim team and serves as a fundraiser for the USA Swimming Foundation, which strives to make communities better through the sport of swimming. Media members interested in covering any of the Golden Goggles weekend events should apply for accreditation online.

"Swimming is one of the best ways for kids to have fun and stay fit.  It is also a lifelong sport and an important skill that can save lives," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "It is our mission to make aquatics accessible to all New Yorkers, and we are very grateful to have such accomplished athletes take the time to inspire our young swimmers.  Special thanks to USA Swimming for bringing U.S. Olympians to Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatic Center for this memorable clinic."