The St. Petersburg Foundation has been awarded a $25,000 grant from Community Foundation Tampa Bay as part of its most recent competitive grant cycle. The funding will support the continued expansion of the Lealman Swim Program at the Lealman Exchange, a life-saving initiative that provides free swim lessons to residents of the Lealman community.
This program addresses a sobering reality: drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of five in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Health. By offering accessible, no-cost swim instruction, the Lealman Swim Program is tackling this crisis head-on—teaching vital water safety skills to both children and adults in a community that has historically lacked access to such resources.
In addition to promoting safety and confidence in the water, the program also creates workforce pathways. Older students who complete the program are eligible for lifeguard certification, helping to address the region’s ongoing shortage of trained lifeguards while opening doors to meaningful employment opportunities.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Community Foundation Tampa Bay for supporting a program that not only saves lives, but builds futures,” said Amy Cianci, Engagement Director, Lealman Exchange. “This funding allows us to serve more families in Lealman and strengthen the community’s access to water safety education and job training.”
The grant reflects the Community Foundation’s commitment to investing in initiatives that create long-term impact across the Tampa Bay region. By supporting programs like Lealman Swim, the Foundation is helping communities grow safer, stronger, and more resilient.
For more information about the Lealman Swim Program or how to support the initiative, visit https://lealmanexchange.org/
