This past May, the International Swimming Hall of Fame and Every Child A Swimmer hosted a VIP event where guests enjoyed a complimentary dinner with drinks and music, meaningful presentations and a first-class diving show. The event, which took place in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was hosted by Casey McGovern, the program manager for Every Child A Swimmer, an organization that provides Learn to Swim scholarships to children who can't afford swimming lessons.
"I've always wanted to have a gala type of event where we could share who we are, our story and our mission, but with too many moving parts, it's never happened," says McGovern. "That changed after I was introduced to Ellie Smart, a Red Bull sponsored diver. With her help, we put my dream into action by planning this event to thank anyone who has ever supported Every Child A Swimmer in any capacity."
Attendees were treated to gift bags that contained educational information, a candle and a copy of the popular children's book "Starfish," which McGovern shared resonates with her mission. "To summarize, an older gentleman encounters a young girl throwing starfish back into the ocean; the beach is miles long and filled with thousands of starfish. She says, 'If I don't put them back into the water, they will die.' He laughs, and says, 'There is no use, as you will never save them all in time.' She throws the next one in and says, 'But I made a difference to this one, and every other one I do reach in time.'
"This story symbolizes what Every Child a Swimmer is doing — we are making a difference. With every scholarship recipient who learns how to swim, we are saving children's lives — one at a time, too."
McGovern also asked everyone in attendance to stand with their candles, a total of 97 candles, and revealed each one represented a Floridian life lost to drowning in 2024 alone. "The candles burning out were symbols of lives lost," she says. "It puts a vivid picture as to why drowning prevention is so important."
The International Swimming Hall of Fame then shared its goals for the future, and a diving competition closed out the event.
The importance of community was felt all throughout the evening. "It takes a large village to make a small difference," says McGovern. "Without the people in attendance, there would be no donations. The goal was to leave them with an even deeper call to action to help prevent child drownings in an even greater capacity. I left that night with a very full, grateful heart, and an even greater fire in my belly to do more."
