Planet Swim was founded in 2009 primarily as a swim school with the mission of promoting and teaching water safety. We quickly realized that the Jacksonville area had many communities that, for various reasons, did not have access to resources such as pools and water safety instruction and we felt compelled to find a way to help fill that gap.
The Foundation is the dream come true of two former swimmers whose lives have been shaped by the great sport of swimming and the people who have helped them along the way. Sergio Lopez Miro and Gustavo Calado both believe that by creating the Planet Swim Foundation they can give back to the sport and most importantly touch the lives of many children by teaching them water safety and introducing them to a sport that could change their lives, the way it did for Sergio and Gus.
The Planet Swim Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the sport of swimming through water safety & education. We believe that everyone should have an opportunity to learn how to swim regardless of their ability, race, background, and financial status. The mission is to facilitate the implementation of an affordable and inclusive learn-to-swim program in North East Florida, as we know firsthand how this life-saving skill can shape someone’s life for the better.
Program Highlights
Thanks to the Planet Swim Foundation we’ve been able to establish several successful partnerships that have allowed us to share our love of the sport and everything that comes with it. For the past 10 years, we’ve offered summer swim lessons in all 3 major counties in NE Florida (Duval, Clay & St. Johns) by awarding over $60,000 in swimming scholarships, benefitting over 1,000 children and adults. We continue to be a resource for developing and advocating for the need for water safety & swimming developmental programs in our community. Most recently, we’ve partnered with the Peace of Heart Community in an effort to teach their residents with non-verbal autism how to swim. It is magical to see these folks in the water and the joy swimming brings to them! We can’t do any of these things without the Foundation and support of our families and community that make it possible.
The Planet Swim Foundation will work towards the following goals:
1. Make Northeast Florida drowning-free!
2. Create an endowment to provide annual scholarships to fund Planet Swim Foundation’s programs in perpetuity
3. Create events to promote the sport of swimming at all levels, from learn-to-swim initiatives to competitive swim meets.
