What has been the participation among schools and students in our program?

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1 The Fritz Apostel Dream 2016 Report September 8, 2016 We are happy to report the completion of our 4 th full years of the Fritz Apostel Dream 3 rd Grade Water Safety Program. We are working to reporting various statistics in order to help us better understand the success of the program. Consider the following: What has been the participation among schools and students in our program? 100% participation from Butte area schools.

2 Participation in program: Total Butte Central Emerson Hillcrest Kennedy Margaret Leary Ramsay West Whittier Total ,412

3 Participants by Household Income Total $15,000 or less $15,001 - $30, $30,001 - $50, $50,000 or more Total ,412

4 What is the purpose of the program and what activities are carried out? It was Fritz Apostle s dream to ensure all children learn to swim; allowing them to safely enjoy Montana s surrounding lakes and rivers. According to the Joshua Collingsworth Foundation and the CDC, Montana is among 10 states in which drowning surpasses all other causes of death to children age 14 and under. Overcoming the fear of water and learning swimming develops a person s pride and inner strength. Students learned basic water safety including: Basic water safety instruction at schools Helping someone from drowning How to properly use a life jacket Swimming techniques to survive in the water for a prolonged period How to secure a raft should it tip over while in it Learning front and back floats, kicking and proper stroke development learn proper kicking, how to tread water, breathing technique for freestyle and also practicing the backstroke How to have fun and stay safe in the water buddy system 12 Y staff planned and participated in the program to help students not only learn how to be safe and have fun, but to build confidence around water.

5 We conduct skills testing at the beginning and end of the program to determine skill levels and improvements. What were our findings? 100% of participants demonstrated all key instruction items on water safety, such as treading water, what to do when a boat tips over, how to rescue someone from the shore, how to handle water current, etc. Below show the percentage of kids that were designated as non-swimmers. Non-swimmers are defined as those that could not swim unassisted for at least 25 yards front and back. Staff reports are estimates and based on the number of kids referred for swimming lessons. Beginning % 70% % 70% % 40% % 40% End

6 ACTIVE 6 During Active 6 orientation over the past 4 years, staff observed non-swimmers in the same manner as 3 rd graders going through our Fritz Apostel Dream program. By the time kids reached 6 th grade, they performed better due to being stronger and having had more opportunities to learn. In 2015, staff estimates that 50-60% of Active 6 participants were designated as non-swimmers would be the first group of kids that also participated in the Fritz Apostel Dream program. There was a marked improvement showing that 20-30% of those participants were designated as non-swimmers. There were far fewer incidents of kids being afraid of water. What other factors are helping kids become swimmers? At the end of 2012, our Y revamped its swimming lessons and now reaches nearly 2,000 kids each year, including the Fritz Apostel Dream program. To measure the impact on our swim

7 lessons program, we reviewed 3 rd grader swim lesson enrollment during the three months following the completion of the Fritz Apostel Dream program. Consider these numbers: 3 rd Grade Enrollments In 2015, a donation was made in the amount of $2,500 to provide swim lesson scholarships for 50 kids. The donor cited the Fritz Apostel Dream program as her reason for the donation. The Y now has a rolling scholarship program for summer swim lessons. What does this all mean? We believe that the Fritz Apostel Dream program is at the heart of a cultural shift in our community and its awareness of the need for water safety and improved swimming skills. Families are more aware of their children s inability to swim and are accessing Y programs and other programs to give them opportunities to learn water safety and swim. Even more adults are deciding to take swim lessons as they become aware of their own inability to swim Direct Expenses were $9, Cost per Participant is $26.42 We very much appreciate the support of the Foundation and others in the community which make it possible for so many kids to be safe around water and develop recreational enjoyment in water as well. Your generosity and vision has saved lives and created another avenue to enjoy life in our great community. Sincerely, Phillip Borup CEO