As the mission-driven initiative of the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), Every Child a Swimmer (ECAS) continues to expand its impact nationwide through swim lesson scholarships, water safety education, strategic partnerships, and legislative advocacy, all with one goal in mind: preventing childhood drowning and creating a generation of swimmers.
Today, ECAS has grown to include more than 400 swim school locations across 46 states, creating one of the nation’s largest collaborative networks dedicated to water safety and learn-to-swim access. Through these partnerships, ECAS awarded more than $800,000 in swim lesson scholarships in 2025, helping nearly 3,000 children gain access to life-saving swim lessons nationwide. A key component of the ECAS model is accountability and measurable outcomes. The program works closely with partner swim schools to track student progress and ensure children develop critical water competency skills, including the ability to safely exit the pool independently and/or float on their backs.
Beyond scholarships, ECAS continues to lead efforts to bring water safety education directly to families through legislation. To date, water safety initiatives championed by ECAS have been passed in nine states, helping provide parents with critical drowning prevention education through schools and healthcare systems. Together, ISHOF and ECAS represent both the legacy and future of aquatics, honoring the history of swimming while helping ensure more children have the opportunity to safely participate in it.
