Thursday, July 27, 2023
Race Swami Continues Impact on a Salt Lake City Community
Race Swami was founded by the husband-and-wife team of Matt Finnigan and Mary Chris in 2011, after months of research and several questions that needed to be addressed to get a meaningful operation up and running.
“We asked ourselves, ‘can it be done and do families on the west side want a USA Swimming program in their community?” said Finnigan, who serves as Executive Director.
The Race Swami leadership operates with the goal of serving Salt Lake City’s (SLC) west-side community by providing affordable swimming lessons and a place where participants can develop life skills. This approach was inspired by Finnigan’s childhood coach, the late Kevin Perry (1951-2008).
“(He) not only developed great athletes but exceptional people, too,” according to Finnigan.
Finnigan first heard the word Swami (SWAH-mee) from Perry. Finnigan explained, “Swami is about mastering yourself, your life — not just in the water but in everything you do. With Coach Perry, it simply meant we were ready and willing to learn something new every day we came to the pool.”
Over the years, Race Swami has served hundreds of children, most of whom come from underrepresented communities and are local to SLC’s west-side neighborhoods — Rose Park, Glendale, Guadalupe Park, Poplar Grove and West Valley City.
With its membership demographics in mind, Race Swami implemented several programs, including swim groups and enrichment activities that aim to support kids with schoolwork, service programs and the swim school.
“Since 2012 (the first year Race Swami had a graduate), our graduation rate from area high schools is 100% while more than 90% of our alums have attended colleges and universities. Many graduates were the first in their families to attend college.”
Through enrichment programming, all athletes are offered free tutoring for most subjects, college campus visits, a summer reading club and extra swim instruction. These programs are for kids ages two and older and are aligned with participants who also receive free or reduced lunch.
Finnigan works year-round, raising money from local and regional foundations, as well as individual and corporate donors. Race Swami received a Community Impact Grant from USA Swimming and the USA Swimming Foundation during the inaugural class of 2020. These grants are provided to clubs across the country to increase programming to underserved communities, support diverse coaches and create additional competitive opportunities.
The funds raised will be utilized for monthly program dues, team gear, training equipment, meet fees and more.
“More than 80% of our kids qualify for all the above since they receive free lunch at area schools,” Finnigan said. “We also raise funds for pool rental fees, coaching fees and staff.”
“We are honored to play a role in supporting Race Swami,” said Joel Shinofield, Managing Director of Sport Development at USA Swimming. “The club is a true community asset to the west side of Salt Lake City providing opportunities that would not exist without their dedication and passion.”.
Race Swami has established partnerships with the Guadalupe School and The Neighborhood House, offering seasonal after-school character education classes through grants and funding for students interested in an affordable learn-to-swim program.
“Classes combine character-building lessons such as introducing the ‘meaning of success’ to young swimmers – learning values including action, alertness, friendship, hard work and poise – with half-hour swim lessons that reinforce the lessons learned that day,” Finnigan explained.
Finnigan and Claire Jackson, head coach at Race Swami, are looking forward to the program’s growth and what is to come. “(Jackson) has been integral in our ability to stay the course, as she grew up on the west side of Salt Lake County (West Valley) and thoroughly understands the challenges that heading an outreach program presents,” Finnigan said.
“We are currently working on opening a second Race Swami site in west Oakland, California with the same model and philosophy as the program here in SLC,” he added. “The Race Swami - Oakland program will be headed by Naji Ali, a westside Oakland resident, excellent coach and inspiring individual.”
“I am currently working on raising funds for this program from Bay Area-rooted foundations known to support economically disadvantaged youth in the Bay Area region,” Finnigan added. “We’re aiming to open the second site in September 2023, if all goes according to plan.”
For more on Race Swami and its initiatives, visit https://raceswami.org/.
“We asked ourselves, ‘can it be done and do families on the west side want a USA Swimming program in their community?” said Finnigan, who serves as Executive Director.
The Race Swami leadership operates with the goal of serving Salt Lake City’s (SLC) west-side community by providing affordable swimming lessons and a place where participants can develop life skills. This approach was inspired by Finnigan’s childhood coach, the late Kevin Perry (1951-2008).
“(He) not only developed great athletes but exceptional people, too,” according to Finnigan.
Finnigan first heard the word Swami (SWAH-mee) from Perry. Finnigan explained, “Swami is about mastering yourself, your life — not just in the water but in everything you do. With Coach Perry, it simply meant we were ready and willing to learn something new every day we came to the pool.”
Over the years, Race Swami has served hundreds of children, most of whom come from underrepresented communities and are local to SLC’s west-side neighborhoods — Rose Park, Glendale, Guadalupe Park, Poplar Grove and West Valley City.
With its membership demographics in mind, Race Swami implemented several programs, including swim groups and enrichment activities that aim to support kids with schoolwork, service programs and the swim school.
“Since 2012 (the first year Race Swami had a graduate), our graduation rate from area high schools is 100% while more than 90% of our alums have attended colleges and universities. Many graduates were the first in their families to attend college.”
Through enrichment programming, all athletes are offered free tutoring for most subjects, college campus visits, a summer reading club and extra swim instruction. These programs are for kids ages two and older and are aligned with participants who also receive free or reduced lunch.
Finnigan works year-round, raising money from local and regional foundations, as well as individual and corporate donors. Race Swami received a Community Impact Grant from USA Swimming and the USA Swimming Foundation during the inaugural class of 2020. These grants are provided to clubs across the country to increase programming to underserved communities, support diverse coaches and create additional competitive opportunities.
The funds raised will be utilized for monthly program dues, team gear, training equipment, meet fees and more.
“More than 80% of our kids qualify for all the above since they receive free lunch at area schools,” Finnigan said. “We also raise funds for pool rental fees, coaching fees and staff.”
“We are honored to play a role in supporting Race Swami,” said Joel Shinofield, Managing Director of Sport Development at USA Swimming. “The club is a true community asset to the west side of Salt Lake City providing opportunities that would not exist without their dedication and passion.”.
Race Swami has established partnerships with the Guadalupe School and The Neighborhood House, offering seasonal after-school character education classes through grants and funding for students interested in an affordable learn-to-swim program.
“Classes combine character-building lessons such as introducing the ‘meaning of success’ to young swimmers – learning values including action, alertness, friendship, hard work and poise – with half-hour swim lessons that reinforce the lessons learned that day,” Finnigan explained.
Finnigan and Claire Jackson, head coach at Race Swami, are looking forward to the program’s growth and what is to come. “(Jackson) has been integral in our ability to stay the course, as she grew up on the west side of Salt Lake County (West Valley) and thoroughly understands the challenges that heading an outreach program presents,” Finnigan said.
“We are currently working on opening a second Race Swami site in west Oakland, California with the same model and philosophy as the program here in SLC,” he added. “The Race Swami - Oakland program will be headed by Naji Ali, a westside Oakland resident, excellent coach and inspiring individual.”
“I am currently working on raising funds for this program from Bay Area-rooted foundations known to support economically disadvantaged youth in the Bay Area region,” Finnigan added. “We’re aiming to open the second site in September 2023, if all goes according to plan.”
For more on Race Swami and its initiatives, visit https://raceswami.org/.