NEWS AND EVENTS

Alana Beard to Host Swim Safety Event in Hometown

NEWS RELEASE

WNBA Star and Louisiana Native Alana Beard to Host Swim Safety Event in Hometown Shreveport, LA

The event is scheduled for July 25-28 with support from the YMCA, USA Swimming Foundation and the American Red Cross.

Shreveport, LA, July 20, 2016 – WNBA star and Louisiana native Alana Beard will host a four-day educational swim safety event at the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana on July 25-28. Beard will participate in the swim program with children 7-12 years old. The event will also include an out of water safety demonstration from the Shreveport Fire Department.

“Swimming and water safety are important skills every kid should know, and unfortunately they are often ignored,” Beard said. “I realize I have a lot to learn and I am beyond excited to learn with the kids to show them that learning water skills is important at all ages.  Anything I can do to help prevent a tragedy in this community, and all communities, is important to me. We must understand it is never too late to learn and I hope that families will be inspired to help their children acquire the skills to safely enjoy swimming and water sports.”

A member of the WNBA’s LA Sparks, Beard wants to use her position as a professional athlete to show the community that water safety is important, regardless of your age or athleticism. A tragedy in 2010 where six teens drowned in Shreveport’s Red River sparked Beard’s passion for water safety. From that point on, she has wanted to host an event emphasizing its importance.

The event has been planned with the support and guidance of the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, USA Swimming Foundation and the American Red Cross. All of the organizations provided input and helped identify the most effective way for Beard to make a difference in this community. After this event, Beard plans to participate in USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative, a national child-focused water safety campaign, which aims to provide the opportunity for every child in America to learn to swim. Through Make a Splash, the USA Swimming Foundation partners with learn-to-swim providers and water safety advocates across the country and has given over $4 million in grants to provide 4 million children swimming lessons.

For information on the partner organizations, visit:

• American Red Cross: www.redcross.org/take-a-class/swimming
• USA Swimming Foundation: www.usaswimmingfoundation.org
• YMCA of Northwest Louisiana: www.ymcanwla.org

For media requests around the event in Shreveport, LA, please contact Meredith Geisler at mgeisler@tandemse.com or (703) 740-5015, or Gary Lash at glash@ymcanwla.org or (318) 470-6351.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS:

It is the mission of the Red Cross to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Today, the Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program helps fulfill that mission by teaching people to be safe in, on and around the water through water safety courses, water-orientation classes for infants and toddlers and comprehensive Learn-to-Swim courses for individuals of different ages and abilities. The American Red Cross has been the gold standard in lifesaving, water safety and swimming instruction since 1914. The Red Cross and its partners train about two million people a year in swimming and water safety.

ABOUT USA SWIMMING FOUNDATION:

The USA Swimming Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming.  Established in 2004, the Foundation works to strengthen the sport by saving lives and building champions— in the pool and in life. Whether we’re equipping our children with the life-saving skill of learn-to-swim through our Make a Splash initiative, or providing financial support to our heroes on the U.S. National Team, the USA Swimming Foundation aims to provide the wonderful experience of swimming to kids at all levels across the country. To learn more, visit www.usaswimmingfoundation.org.

ABOUT YMCA OF NORTHWEST LOUISIANA:

We know that lasting personal and social change comes about when we all work together. At the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana strengthening community is our cause.  Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Our mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

ABOUT TANDEM SPORTS + ENTERTAINMENT:

In addition to Alana Beard, Tandem’s roster of clients includes Tim Duncan, Jeremy Lin, Grant Hill, Ray Allen, John Henson, Brandan Wright, Thaddeus Young, Marvin Williams, Zaza Pachulia, Gerald Henderson, Raymond Felton, C. J. Watson, Dominique Wilkins and Tamika Catchings. Marketing and public relations clients include World Series champion pitcher Chris Young, and two-time Olympic gold medalist LaShawn Merritt.  Public relations clients include Charles Johnson Foundation, and author Jon Pessah (“THE GAME: Inside the Secret World of Major League Baseball’s Power Brokers”).

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