About 1,400 second-grade students at 29 El Monte-area elementary schools will receive water-safety education through a grant from the LA84 Foundation, city officials announced Thursday.
The funding, awarded through the foundation’s Learn to Swim initiative, will support a partnership involving the city, Mountain View School District and El Monte City School District.
The amount of the El Monte grant was not disclosed.
“Learning to swim is more than a recreational opportunity — it is a life-saving skill that every child should have the opportunity to learn,” El Monte City Manager Alma K. Martinez said in a statement.
“By partnering with our local school districts, we can reach approximately 1,400 second graders and give them knowledge and skills that can protect them for the rest of their lives,” Martinez added.
The grant is part of $330,000 in funding awarded by the LA84 Foundation for water-safety education programs expected to reach about 10,000 young people across Southern California, according to the city.
The El Monte program will focus on providing participating second graders with a basic understanding of water safety.
Research from USA Swimming cited by the foundation indicates that 45% of Latino children have little or no swimming ability, city officials said.
More than 200,000 Southern California youths have learned to swim through programs supported by the LA84 Foundation, according to the city.
“This investment may begin with a swim lesson, but its impact can last a lifetime,” Martinez said.