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Meet Debbie Hesse: Executive director of USA Swimming Foundation (Includes interview)

“It feels great to be in New York, as part of the 50th stop of the ‘Make A Splash’ Tour. It feels like a celebration of many things that we have accomplished in the past but also, really, it’s a journey,” she said.

“We really want to educate people on how important it is for every child in this country to learn to swim,” she said. “We are the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming, and as part of USA Swimming, we want everybody to get involved.”

At this two-day “Make A Splash” tour stop in New York, Hesse was joined by such Olympic gold medalist swimmers as Rowdy Gaines, Missy Franklin, Nathan Adrian, Cullen Jones, and Simone Manuel.

Cullen Jones  Simone Manuel and Rowdy Gaines at the Empire State Building in New York as part of the...

Cullen Jones, Simone Manuel and Rowdy Gaines at the Empire State Building in New York as part of the USA Swimming Foundation’s “Make A Splash” Tour.
USA Swimming Foundation

One of the USA Swimming Foundation’s statistics is quite staggering. “In 79 percent of households that make less than $50,000, their children have little to no swimming ability,” Hesse said. “So, we want to change that statistic. We raise money to help provide swimming lessons for children. Last year, we provided more than $700,000, in an effort to provide free and reduced swimming lessons for kids around the country.”

Hesse had nothing but the kindest words about the Goldfish Swim School, which is one of the USA Swimming Foundation’s partners. “We love the Goldfish Swim School,” she said. “We are excited that they are a sponsor of our foundation, and we are super excited that they are trying to raise one million dollars by the year 2024. They are wonderful people and we are super excited that Ryan Murphy is an ambassador for their swim schools too.”

Goldfish Swim School president and co-founders present check to the USA Swimming Foundation

Goldfish Swim School president and co-founders present check to the USA Swimming Foundation
Goldfish Swim School

In the next five years, Hesse sees the USA Swimming Foundation growing and expanding. “We are starting to see the membership of USA Swimming get more involved with the USA Swimming Foundation by taking the time to educate people and teaching children how to swim,” she said.

“Any time social media gets out there, and our athletes and sponsors are out there posting, we can really make an impact,” she said.

To learn more about the USA Swimming Foundation, check out its official website and its Facebook page.

Markos Papadatos
Written By

Markos Papadatos is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for Music News. Papadatos is a Greek-American journalist and educator that has authored over 20,000 original articles over the past 18 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, lifestyle, magic, and sports. He is a 16-time "Best of Long Island" winner, where for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, and 2022), he was honored as the "Best Long Island Personality" in Arts & Entertainment, an honor that has gone to Billy Joel six times.

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