150 Mid-South Girls Learn to Swim on First Day of Summer

On June 20, 2024 — the official first day of summer — 150 Mid-South girls began learning life-saving swim skills, thanks to a powerful partnership involving Girls Inc. of Memphis, the YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Splash Mid-South, and the University of Memphis.

As part of the World’s Largest Swim Lesson, Memphis joined over 600 locations worldwide to promote water safety. This initiative aims to reduce childhood drownings and improve access to swim lessons — particularly in communities of color, where such opportunities are often limited.

“We’ve had many of our children not only learn to swim, but go on to join swim teams, attend college, and even become lifeguards,” said Anthony Norris of the YMCA, whose daughter Kiara is now a swim coach.

Girls Inc. of Memphis is proud to help equip girls with the skills and confidence they need to stay safe and thrive in and out of the water.

📺 Watch the video coverage from Action News 5:
150 Mid-South girls learn to swim on first day of summer