Rafael was nervous about stepping into the swimming pool for the first time. He didn’t know how to swim, but with the help of Y lifeguards and swim instructors, by the end of his first swim lesson Rafael was thriving in the pool, blowing bubbles and putting his face in the water—a big achievement. He begged his mom to let him come to the Y every day to practice his swimming. Soon Rafael could paddle across the pool and had mastered water safety skills.

Rafael is now a happy, confident swimmer and his entire family feels welcome at the Y, thanks to support from generous donors like you.