Sponsorships and tickets are now available for the annual event that supports the water safety and drowning prevention programs at the YMCA
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — The YMCA of South Florida kicks off the fall season with its annual Beach Ball, presented by Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 5 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 1 Seminole Way, in Hollywood. The Beach Ball benefits the water safety and drowning prevention programs at the YMCA.
The YMCA’s Beach Ball is one of the hottest social events to kick off the season, with more than 600 philanthropic and business professionals in attendance. Guests are encouraged to dress to the theme, “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler” (Let the Good Times Roll) During the evening guests will enjoy a cocktail reception, dinner, live musical entertainment, dancing and a live and silent auction. Proceeds from the Beach Ball supports Financial Assistance for Aquatics programming so that anyone, regardless of their ability to pay, can come to the Y to learn water safety. Unfortunately, South Florida leads the nation in childhood drownings, and the Y’s mission is to work with the community to stem this tide.
“Just because the calendar changes to fall, does not mean our children and families are safe from drowning, particularly here in South Florida,” said YMCA of South Florida CEO Sheryl A. Woods. “Our programs continue to have an impact on local communities, providing swim lessons and water safety education to more than 175,000 children and their families. We can only do that with the generous support from Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and all our Beach Ball sponsors and guests. Together we can save lives.”
For only $125 per child, the Y teaches a proven, eight-lesson drowning prevention course that empowers children to learn to swim and develop the confidence needed to be safe in and around water.
A limited number of sponsorships for Beach Ball 2024 are still available, including Ruby, Gold and Silver sponsorship options for $7,500, $5,000 and $3,000, respectively.
For further information on Beach Ball 2024, including sponsorships and tickets, please visit ymcasouthflorida.org/beach-ball/. For sponsorship opportunities or additional questions, please contact Aimee Fretwell at AFretwell@YMCASouthFlorida.org or at (954) 334-9622, ext. 1045.
Florida leads the country in child drownings of all ages, with Broward and Miami-Dade counties reporting the most drowning deaths in the state. At least 40% of children have little or no swimming ability, a figure which rises to 64% among some minority groups. In addition, for every child who loses their life to drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries. The Y’s swimming programs are paramount because formal swimming lessons reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88%. Annually, more than 25,000 children and adults are taught drowning prevention and water safety techniques at the YMCA of South Florida. Many of these lessons are funded through the Y’s Aquatic Financial Assistance Program, making them accessible to all. The Y has an eight-lesson drowning prevention program, where children learn to be safe in and around the water. The Y’s Mobile Aquatics program also travels to low-income neighborhoods to teach water safety to children and their caregivers.
In addition to presenting sponsor Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Beach Ball 2024 is supported by Brown & Brown Insurance Miami-Dade, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Bacardi USA, Publix Super Markets Charities, Related Group, Spirit Airlines, Miami Herald, and Milner, among many others.
About the YMCA of South Florida
For more than a century, the YMCA has been woven into the fabric of the South Florida community. As a leading nonprofit, the Y is committed to strengthening community through more than 200 programs serving everyone from six months old to 100 years young. Our Family Centers and programs are inclusive, vibrant hubs of community life, offering a diverse array of classes, cutting-edge fitness facilities, life-saving aquatics, exciting community events, unforgettable camps, supportive afterschool care, and holistic health and wellness programming. At the Y, there’s something for everyone. Join the movement by connecting with us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or YMCASouthFlorida.org.
