Planet Swim Foundation: Making a Difference Through Swimming
Planet Swim was founded in 2009, originally as a swim school with a mission centered around promoting and teaching water safety. Early on, we recognized that many communities throughout the Jacksonville area lacked access to basic resources like swimming pools and water safety education. That realization inspired us to find a way to close that gap—and the Planet Swim Foundation was born.
The Foundation is the realization of a shared dream between two lifelong swimmers, Sergio Lopez Miro and Gustavo Calado. Having had their lives shaped by the sport of swimming and the mentors who supported them, Sergio and Gus created the Planet Swim Foundation as a way to give back. Their goal: to provide children with access to the life-changing power of water safety and the sport they love.
As a nonprofit organization, the Planet Swim Foundation is dedicated to promoting swimming through water safety education and outreach. We believe that every individual—regardless of background, race, ability, or financial status—should have the opportunity to learn how to swim. Our mission is to implement affordable, inclusive, and accessible learn-to-swim programs across Northeast Florida. We know firsthand how this life-saving skill can transform lives and open doors.
Program Highlights
Thanks to the support of our community and donors, the Planet Swim Foundation has been able to establish successful partnerships and grow its impact year after year. Over the past decade, we’ve offered free and low-cost swim lessons in all three major counties of Northeast Florida—Duval, Clay, and St. Johns. To date, we have awarded over $100,000 in swimming scholarships, benefitting more than 1,000 children and adults.
We’re also proud of our unique programs that bring swimming to those with special needs. Most recently, we partnered with the Peace of Heart Community to teach residents with non-verbal autism how to swim. Watching the joy and confidence these individuals gain in the water is nothing short of magical.
None of this would be possible without the support of our Foundation, our generous families, and our wider community. Together, we’re building a safer, stronger future through swimming.
The Planet Swim Foundation’s Goals:
Make Northeast Florida drowning-free
Create a permanent endowment to fund annual swimming scholarships and sustain Foundation programs for generations to come
Promote swimming at all levels, from learn-to-swim programs to competitive swim meets and community events
