Olympic Gold Medalist Janet Evans Joins LA84 Foundation To Kick Off 2013 Summer Swim Program

LOS ANGELES, June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As public pools open across Los Angeles for the summer season, the LA84 Foundation is doing its part to promote swim safety. The statistics are staggering – 70% of African American children and 60% of Latino children cannot swim, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 10 people drown every day in the United States. Participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the likelihood of drowning by 88%, according to a study by Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. The LA84 Foundation, endowed with surplus funds from the 1984 Olympic Games, is providing over $400,000 in grants to fund swim lessons and organized sports in public pools in 14 different local municipalities, which will help reach 15,000 children across the region.

Special guest Janet Evans, an Olympic gold medalist swimmer and mother to two young children, will speak about the importance of teaching children how to swim. She will join with International Olympic Committee Member and LA84 Foundation President Anita L. DeFrantz, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, John Wicker of LA Department of Rec & Parks and USA Swimming Foundation Executive Director Debbie Hesse on Friday, June 7^th at Alondra Community Regional Park Pool to kick-off LA84's summer swim program and celebrate the opening of Los Angeles County pools.

SOURCE LA84 Foundation