Ripples of Impact Nonprofit launches “100 Kids in 100 Days,” a scholarship initiative providing 2,500 swim lessons to 100 Miami-Dade children.
MIAMI, Fla. – August 2026 — In South Florida, where pools, canals, beaches, and waterways are part of everyday life, learning how to swim is one of the most important skills a child can develop. Yet for many families, the cost of quality swim lessons remains out of reach. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children in Miami-Dade ages 1 to 14, and research shows that formal swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by as much as 88% for young children. This fall, Ripples of Impact is inviting the community to become part of the solution.
The nonprofit organization has launched 100 Kids in 100 Days: Creating Safer Swimmers, a community-wide campaign that will create an $85,000 swim scholarship initiative for 100 income-qualified children throughout Miami-Dade County. Together, the initiative will provide 2,500 professionally instructed swim lessons, helping children build confidence, develop essential water safety skills, and gain an opportunity that can benefit them for a lifetime.
The campaign has a $25,000 community fundraising goal, with every donation matched dollar for dollar by a private donor. Ocaquatics Swim School is contributing more than $22,000 toward the scholarship lessons, along with facilities, marketing, and program support. Together, those contributions will give 100 children greater access to consistent swim instruction and the opportunity to build confidence and essential water safety skills.
Learning to swim is about far more than mastering strokes. It builds confidence, encourages healthy physical activity, and equips children with skills that can benefit them for a lifetime. Through 100 Kids in 100 Days, Ripples of Impact is working to remove financial barriers so every child has the opportunity to gain these essential life skills, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn how to swim, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances,” said Miren Oca, Founder of Ripples of Impact and CEO of Ocaquatics Swim School. “When our community comes together, every donation can help open that opportunity for another child.”
Ocaquatics successfully led Swim4Impact, a fundraising effort that brought together employees, families, and supporters across its five South Florida locations.
Through the campaign, Ocaquatics generated more than $7,000 in additional support for Ripples of Impact and its mission to provide swim scholarships to children in the community.
Building on that momentum, the 100 Kids in 100 Days campaign will run from Sept. 8 through Dec. 17, 2026, with one goal: 100 children. 2,500 lessons. 100 days.
Learn more:
www.ripplesofimpact.org/100-kids-in-100-days
Donate or support Swim4Impact:
www.mightycause.com/event/100kids100days
Ripples of Impact is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to professionally instructed swim lessons through scholarships, community partnerships, and water safety education. By removing financial barriers, Ripples of Impact helps children gain essential life skills and creates opportunities for every child to become safer in and around the water.
Founded in 1994, Ocaquatics Swim School has helped thousands of children and adults build confidence and become safer in and around the water through quality swim instruction. As the nation’s first 100% employee-owned swim school and a Certified B Corporation, Ocaquatics is committed to creating lasting community impact by expanding access to swim lessons and supporting initiatives that help more children learn this essential life skill.
Miren Oca
Founder of Ripples of Impact
CEO, Ocaquatics Swim School
miren@ripplesofimpact.org
786-390-6446
Date Posted: August 25, 2026
