COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Cities across the nation can vie for a visit from Olympic Gold Medalist Cullen Jones by submitting a video in the “Make a Splash for Water Safety” Video contest, presented by the USA Swimming Foundation and Phillips 66, starting May 14. The winning city will become the sixth stop of the Make a Splash with Cullen Jones Tour presented by Phillips 66. Finalists will be announced and fan voting will open June 18.
Entries due by: June 15, 2012
Finalists announced and voting opens: June 18, 2012
Winner announced: July 2, 2012
The Make a Splash with Cullen Jones Tour is a national water safety tour designed to educate parents, kids and communities about the importance of learning to swim. Starring the Olympic gold medalist, the tour stop will include a visit to a local school, camp or community center and a once-in-a-lifetime swim lesson with Jones. Additionally, a swim lesson provider in the winning city will receive a $5,000 grant to provide free learn-to-swim instruction to local children. Four “runner-up” cities will receive learn-to-swim equipment packages, including swimsuits, kickboards and swim caps.
To enter, local organizations, individuals or community groups must create and submit a short video showing their city’s commitment to water safety. The USA Swimming Foundation and Phillips 66 will select five finalists, and the winner will be chosen by fan voting, both online at www.makeasplash.org and on-site at the USA Swimming AquaZone in Omaha, Neb., June 25-July 2. Videos can be uploaded here. View the rules here.
“This contest is an opportunity to get communities excited about water safety and to further spread the message that learning to swim can save lives,” said Debbie Hesse, executive director of the USA Swimming Foundation. “To date, 1.2M kids have taken lessons through the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative, and we are proud to continue our efforts to provide that opportunity for every child in America.”
“Phillips 66 is committed to safety and we are pleased to partner with the USA Swimming Foundation in recognizing American cities with the same commitment. Our annual support of the Make a Splash Tour embodies the company's focus on safety by reaching out to parents across the nation to build awareness, and by giving thousands of children the opportunity to learn a valuable life-saving skill,” said Kristi DesJarlais, manager, Corporate Brand and Community Investment, Phillips 66.
The deadline for video entries is June 15, 2012. Finalists will be announced June 18 and voting will be open until July 1. The winning city will be announced live at the AquaZone and on www.makeasplash.org on July 2.
The Make a Splash with Cullen Jones Tour presented by Phillips 66, kicked off in March with stops in Houston and New Orleans. The tour will continue in August and September. Dates and locations are as follows:
August 24-25 Chicago
August 26-27 Des Moines, Ia.
Sept. 6-8 San Jose, Calif.
Sept. 9-10 “Make a Splash for Water Safety” video contest winner
Sobering Drowning Statistics
Approximately 10 people drown every day in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and more than one in five fatal drowning victims are children younger than 14. Drowning is also a silent killer—most young children who drowned in pools were last seen in the home, had been out of sight less than five minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at the time, according to the Present P. Child Drowning study. Furthermore, 60-70 percent of African-American and Hispanic children cannot swim, and only 13 percent of kids who come from a non-swimming household will ever learn to swim, according to a national research study by the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis. African-American children drown at a rate nearly three times higher than their Caucasian peers, the CDC reports.
About the USA Swimming Foundation: The USA Swimming Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming. Established in 2004, the Foundation works to strengthen the sport by saving lives and building champions—in the pool and in life. Whether we're equipping our children with the life-saving skill of learn-to-swim through our Make a Splash initiative, or providing financial support to our heroes on the U.S. National Team, the USA Swimming Foundation aims to provide the wonderful experience of swimming to kids at all levels across the country. The Foundation also serves as the home for our National and Olympic Team Alumni reunions and regional events. The development efforts of the USA Swimming Foundation aim to establish an endowment to strengthen the future of USA Swimming’s programs and services. For more information on the USA Swimming Foundation, please visit www.usaswimmingfoundation.org.
About Make a Splash
Make a Splash is the national child-focused water safety initiative of the USA Swimming Foundation. Through its 529 local partner programs, Make a Splash offers free or discounted swimming lessons or water safety education in 47 states. To find a local partner, visit www.makeasplash.org.
About Phillips 66
Headquartered in Houston, TX, Phillips 66 is an advantaged downstream energy company with segment-leading Refining and Marketing (R&M), Midstream and Chemicals businesses. Since 1973, the company's contributions have supported the USA Swimming community through the National Championships and other international competitions, publication of club development materials, and other areas. To learn more about Phillips 66, please visit www.phillips66.com.