For nearly a year officials at Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center have established and grown the Making Waves Fund.

The fund is used to provide financial assistance to children and families within the community that need a financial hand when it comes to pursuing swim lessons or participating on the SARC swim team.

The fund developed from the creative and community-centric thinking of longtime SARC member Ina Palmer and support of additional members from Palmer’s morning water aerobics class.

Since the fund’s grassroots beginning, SARC aquatics manager Gail Sumpter and staff manage the scholarship program thats funds are up to about $2,000, Sumpter said.

“I think this program can serve a huge need for our community,” Sumpter said. “I don’t want children to not be able to participate in swimming or sports in general because of financial reasons.”

So far, five children have been awarded scholarships through the Making Waves program.

“One of the biggest challenges of this program is simply making sure people are aware of it and understand assistance is available year-round,” Sumpter said.

In addition to the social and health benefits of swim lessons and/or participation on the swim team, there is a safety benefit in learning to swim, Scott Deschenes, SARC executive director, said. In the United States, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in children ages 1-14 years old, Deschenes said, referencing statistics from the World Health Organization.

“There is water all around here, so it is important as many people in our community have access to learning a survival skill like swimming,” Deschenes said.

In an attempt to provide readily available access to swim lessons, whether learning or strengthening such skills, Sumpter said she made the scholarship application as simple and straight-forward as possible. The awarded scholarship amount is based on funds available and the individual’s or family’s financial need.

Given the success of the Making Waves scholarship program thus far, SARC officials intends to expand the program by including additional services.

“I think helping one another out is an important part of being a community,” Deschenes said. “We would like to see similar programs span to other avenues.”

The Making Waves Fund is maintained on an all-donation basis. If interested in making a donation, call Sumpter at 683-3344, ext. 16.

Making Waves

What: Swim scholarships at SARC

When: Next swim session (nine classes) begins Monday, Nov. 3, but scholarship applications are continuously accepted

Where: SARC, 610 N. Fifth Ave.

More info: www.sarcfitness.com for online application; call aquatics manager Gail Sumpter 683-3344, x16 or e-mail at sarcaquatics@olypen.com

Reach Alana Linderoth at alinderoth@sequimgazette.com.