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Committee agrees to accept multiple grants to fund free third‑grade swim lessons and a kayak program at Simon Center
Summary
Committee approved forwarding three small grants to the full county board: $500 from American Canoe Association for kayaking classes, $3,000 from the campus foundation for instructors, and $10,000 from the Saughey Family Foundation to cover transportation for Richland Intermediate third graders' swim lessons.
The Richland County Executive and Finance Standing Committee voted May 13 to forward several grant acceptances to the full county board that would fund recreational programming at the Simon Center, including free swim lessons for third graders and a beginning kayaking program.
Parks/Simon Center staff said they received a $500 offer from the American Canoe Association to start a beginning kayaking class using six kayaks the county inherited previously; instruction will occur primarily in the pool with a possible last‑day outing to the Pine River. The campus foundation offered $3,000 to pay instructor costs associated with delivering swim lessons to all third graders in the Richland School District for the 2025–26 school year. The Saughey Family Foundation offered $10,000 to cover transportation (busing) for the Richland Intermediate School so there is no cost to families or the school district; grant funds will pay instructor and transportation costs, with no cost to the county.
Staff said the program is intended to make swim lessons and water safety more accessible; instructors will be paid from grant funds and fees will not be charged to participants for the school lessons. Committee members supported expanding the program to other districts in future years if funding and logistics permit. The committee voted to forward acceptance of the grants to the full county board.
