Kaiser Permanente presented a check to the Chula Vista Department of Parks and Recreation staff, city officials, and Friends of Chula Vista Parks and Recreation members for $93,500 for a two-year grant, to fund their Operation Splash program at a ceremony held May 21 at Loma Verde Aquatics Center.
Operation Splash provides swim lessons to fourth graders in the Chula Vista Elementary School District.
Operation Splash began in Los Angeles in 2006 and has expanded to Chula Vista and other regions.
“We will use this money to teach close to 2,000 children to swim,” said aquatic supervisor of the city of Chula Vista’s recreation department Karina Craig.
The ceremony, held from 10 to 10:30 a.m., included city officials, community leaders and classes of fourth graders sitting on bleachers and in the pool.
“We believe in the importance of prevention,” said district Superintendent Francisco Escobedo on how knowing how to swim can save a child’s life. “This is an amazing partnership that we have with Kaiser.”
Speakers at the ceremony included Mayor Mary Casillas Salas, president of Friends of Chula Vista Parks & Recreation Ashley Gonzalez, fourth grade students at Lauderbach Elementary Valerie Pablo, senior vice president and area manager for Kaiser Permanante Jane Finley, registered nurse and chief administrative officer for Kaiser Permanente Marie Zappia-Kuzmack, and area medical director and chief of staff for Kaiser Permanente Dr. Michael Lalich.
“We believe in the importance of prevention we believe every child is a child of great worth,” Escobedo said. “This is an amazing partnership that we have with Kaiser.
Valerie Pablo’s mother, Hinerva Pablo, explained the importance of Operation Splash to her and her daughter.
“It’s her first lesson through Operation Splash,” said Hinerva Pablo of her daughter Valerie Pablo. “I’ve been wanting her to learn how to swim. Learning how to swim can save their lives.”
“We believe in the importance of prevention,” said Dr. Francisco Escobedo of the children learning to swim. “This is an amazing partnership that we have with Kaiser.
“We are grateful to Kaiser Permanente,” said councilmember Jill Galvez.
“I just would like to say thank you to everybody,” said 4th grader Valerie Pablo. “Swim is very important to us. This program will help us keep safe.”
“It’s five days a week, for two weeks at differing times,” said aquatics supervisor II at Loma Verde Aquatics Center Carolyn Lechner, “We have different levels – they learn to float or free style and learn advanced skills.” All that is required for the students to bring is a swimsuit, towel, but goggles are optional.
“We have two sessions going on through-out the year, July to October, and then start again April to early June,” said Lechner.
“For most of the kids this is their first time in the water,” said Lechner.
