FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2023 
The HUB Recreation Center Receives $3,500 in Grant Funding From USA Swimming Foundation
Grant supports continued efforts to offer free swim lessons
[MARION, IL] – We are pleased to announce The HUB Recreation Center has been awarded the USA Swimming Foundation 2023 Youth Learn to Swim Grant in the amount of $3,500. The award will go toward The HUB’s continued efforts to provide free swim lessons for youth in Marion and surrounding communities.
The USA Swimming Foundation has awarded a total of $647,522 to programs across the country. “Over 14,000 individuals will now have the opportunity to learn the lifesaving skill of water safety across the country,” said USA Swimming Foundation Senior Director of Development Elaine Calip. “We owe a tremendous thank you to our partners and donors who continue to make a difference in our mission of saving lives and building champions,” she continued.
“It is an honor to be selected as one of 69 swim providers across 25 states from an application pool of more than 220 programs,” said HUB General Manager Chris Georgantas. The HUB, along with community partners Boyton Street Community Center, Autism Society of Southern Illinois and the Boys and Girls Club of Marion, previously utilized this grant in 2018, 2019 and 2022. This year, the grant will allow us to serve roughly 100 children between the ages of 5 and 17.
“Drowning prevention is one of our primary missions at The HUB Aquatics Center, and there is no better way to accomplish this than to reach those in our community who may not have access to structured swim programs,” Georgantas continued. “This program encourages youth to be more active and work toward achieving new goals in a fun and welcoming atmosphere,” he added. We welcome returning swimmers and new students to the program and we thank USA Swimming for continuing to make this available in our community and across the nation. 
Millions of individuals have received the lifesaving gift of swim lessons through the USA Swimming Foundation’s network of swim lesson providers, comprised of more than 1,500 qualified lesson providers across the nation. To learn more, visit www.usaswimming.org/foundation.
To view the full list of 2023 USA Swimming Foundation grant recipients or to donate to the Foundation, click here.
For more information on The HUB Recreation Center, visit www.TheHubMarion.com.
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Media Contact:
Hilary Holdinghausen
Marketing & Business Development Director
marketing@thehubmarion.com or (618) 997-2HUB ext. 1502
