YMCA of South Florida's Beach Ball Gala Aims to Combat Child Drowning Epidemic Through Water Safety Programs

The YMCA of South Florida will host its annual Beach Ball Gala on Saturday, October 4, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, with proceeds supporting the organization's water safety and drowning prevention initiatives. The Olympian Tides-themed event brings together more than 600 community leaders and supporters to raise critical funds for aquatic programs that provide free and subsidized swim lessons for underserved youth.

Florida leads the country in child drownings across all age groups, with Broward and Miami-Dade counties reporting the highest number of drowning deaths in the state. According to statistics, at least 40% of children have little or no swimming ability, a figure that rises to 64% among some minority populations. For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive water safety education.

The YMCA's swimming programs demonstrate significant impact, as formal swimming lessons reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88%. Annually, more than 50,000 children and adults learn drowning prevention and water safety techniques through the YMCA of South Florida's programs. Many of these lessons are funded through the organization's Aquatic Financial Assistance Program, making them accessible to families regardless of their ability to pay.

Sheryl A. Woods, CEO of YMCA of South Florida, emphasized the importance of continued funding for water safety education. Because every life saved is a victory we all share, we must keep funding and improving our programs to continue providing swim lessons and water safety education to more children and their families, Woods stated. The organization appreciates the support of title sponsor Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and presenting sponsor Nicklaus Children's Hospital, along with other corporate supporters.

The YMCA's educational efforts extend beyond basic swim instruction to address specialized risks like underwater hypoxic blackout, which occurs when someone playing breath-holding games experiences accidental blackout leading to rapid drowning. This risk affects people of all ages and poses an even greater danger to strong swimmers. The organization's comprehensive approach includes an eight-lesson drowning prevention program that teaches children to be safe in and around water, while the Mobile Aquatics program travels to low-income neighborhoods to provide water safety education to children and caregivers.

Select sponsorships and early bird tickets for Beach Ball 2025 are currently available through ymcasouthflorida.org/beach-ball/, ranging from $3,000 to $25,000. The gala will feature a cocktail reception, dinner, live musical entertainment, dancing, and live and silent auctions during an evening focused on raising awareness and funds for water safety education that addresses a critical public health crisis affecting Florida's most vulnerable communities.