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The Josh Project Celebrates a Decade of Service

 

By Tricia Hall

Sojourner’s Truth Reporter

 

The Josh Project celebrated the teaching of water safety in Toledo.

 

The Josh Project was publicly recognized on August 8, 2017 by State Rep. Michael Ashford. Then immediately followed the presentation as all attendees enjoyed a brief reception with gifts and refreshments.

 

“I am extremely excited about making it 10 years, and we appreciate all the support from the community. Over the past 10 years, we have learned that operating a non-profit that provides water safety programs is hard. There are times we did not have enough swim instructors. However, USA Swim recently reported that the number of kids that lack swim ability has gone down. I would love to see a public indoor pool that we can access year-round, so kids can practice swim skills,” said Executive Director Tankeeya Butts.

 

The Josh Project was founded in 2006 by Wanda Jean Butts after the drowning of her 16-year-old son, John Josh Butts, at Bird Lake Michigan, when the inflatable raft he was on capsized. Josh never had a swimming lesson and did not know how to swim at the time and could not save himself.

 

The Josh Project Inc. is a faith-based, not-for-profit organization founded to educate and empower youth, by offering educational opportunities in swim safety. Youth between the ages of four to 18, register for only $10 and receive four swim lessons by qualified swim instructors at St Francis De Sales High School.


Wanda Butts, Tankeeya Butts, State Rep. Michael Ashford

 

Carla Baucom, mother of three children between the ages of six-13 years of age, first registered her children three years ago and appreciates what the swim lessons have done for her children. “My two older ones can dive into deeper water now and that wasn’t the case years ago. Wanda and I are members of the same church, Indiana Ave, and what happened to her son hit home for me, and Isiah Thomas in 2006. My kids needed to learn how to swim. As an educator, I urge the students in my class to learn water safety.”

 

In addition to this public acknowledgement, the Josh Project has received the following honors: a City of Toledo proclamation in May 2011 and The Grio’s 100 in 2013 and Wanda Butts was named one of CNN 10 heroes in 2012.

 

“I’m extremely proud of the work the Josh Project has done for the greater Toledo community, especially as it relates to promoting water safety education in minority communities. For the past 10 years, the Josh Project has helped hundreds of men and women, young and old, learn to swim and understand the importance of safe water practices. I have no doubt that their dedicated efforts have succeeded in saving lives,” said Ashford.

 

According the Center for Disease Control and Prevention nearly 80 percent of drowning victims are males, and children between the ages of one to four are the highest at risk of drowning. There are factors that impact these statistics: access to swimming pools, desire to learn water safety and lack of swimming ability.

   
   


Copyright © 2017 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/16/18 14:12:35 -0700.


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