A vision to ensure all six-year old children can swim

Mukti Fund founder, Mike Dively, is an avid swimmer with several senior world-champion records to his credit. His love for the pool inspires him to share the importance of learning how to swim for recreation as well as safety.   

A 2010 USA Swimming Foundation report found that 68% of black children, 58% of the Latino children, and 42% of white children in America said they have little or no swimming ability. That same study noted if a parent does not know how to swim “there is only a 13% chance a child in that household will learn to swim.” In Florida, drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years of age.

In December 2019, the City of Winter Park approved a program with the Parks and Recreation Department that would teach kindergartners in all 3 Winter Park elementary school to swim.  Funding for the program was provided by Advent Hospital, the City of Winter Park and Mukti Fund. Covid delayed the program for a year. In September 2021, two eight-week sessions were launched, offering free swim lessons.