Wanda Butts
Wanda Butts is a United States activist who leads a nonprofit organization that teaches minority children how to swim. She was named one of the top 10 CNN Heroes in 2012.[1][2]
Life[edit]
Butts had a fear of water since she was a child.[1][3][4] She lost her 16-year-old son to a drowning accident in 2006, when he was rafting with friends on a lake and did not wear a life jacket.[1][3][4][5] Her son did not know how to swim. After this tragedy, Butts was determined to begin activism so other children would not suffer the same fate.[1][6] Butts now works for the city of Toledo, Ohio full-time, while running her nonprofit organization part-time.[5]
Activism[edit]
After her son's death, Butts founded the nonprofit organization the Josh Project in 2007 in Toledo, Ohio. She partnered with the USA Swimming Foundation's Make-A-Splash initiative to help with her organization, who in turn connected her with her local swimming organization, the Greater Toledo Aquatic Club.[7][6] The Josh Project provides low-cost swimming lessons for children, and the first swimming safety session for children was held in March 2007.[6] As of 2016, the organization has helped over 1,300 children learn how to swim.[1][4][2] The organization primarily helps minority children, as they are at a significantly higher risk of drowning in the United States.[1][3][7][6] Most of the children who learn to swim are the first in their family to do so.[6] Volunteers that are certified lead the classes at a local high school. Children can continue in the program for as long as they choose.[4] She also performs speaking engagements.[5] Her organization model has expanded to create similar organizations in other locations such as Norfolk, Virginia.[1] Butts hopes to expand her organization by training more instructors and gaining their own facility.[1][7]
Awards[edit]
Butts was named a CNN Hero in 2012.[1] She was named one of The Grio's 100 in 2013.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Trinh, Lan. "Swim lessons help minority children break cycle". CNN. CNN. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Son's drowning spurs mom to action". CNN. CNN. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d "theGrio's 100: Wanda Butts, turning tragedy into life-saving hope". TheGrio. TheGrio. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d Free, Cathy. "Wanda Butts Teaches Inner City Kids in Ohio How to Swim". People. People. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- ^ a b c "Minority Swimming: A Mother's Mission". Aquatics International. Aquatics International. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Ozburn, Marc. "DoGooder Spotlight: Triumph Through Tragedy in Josh's Project". The Huffington Post. The Huffington Post. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- ^ a b c Gustafson, Mike. "Wanda Butts: A Hero". USA Swimming. USA Swimming. Archived from the original on 2017-03-26. Retrieved 2 June 2021.