$10K Grant To Fund Free Swim Lessons For Local Children

CLAYTON — A Clayton swim school is expanding access to lifesaving water safety instruction after receiving $10,000 in scholarship funding for 2026.

Alligator Steps Swim School was awarded the funding through its partnership with Every Child a Swimmer. The scholarship dollars will allow the school to provide free swim lessons to income-qualified families in Johnston County. Children in foster care will automatically qualify for the program.

Owner Larissa Koerschner said the funding will help remove financial barriers that often prevent children from learning critical water safety skills.

“At Alligator Steps Swim School, our mission has always been to build safer, more confident swimmers,” Koerschner said. “This partnership allows us to extend that mission even further by making high-quality swim instruction accessible to families who may not otherwise be able to participate — especially children in foster care who deserve every opportunity to feel safe and confident around water.”

Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death among children nationwide, and research shows that formal swim lessons can significantly reduce that risk. School leaders say the scholarship program is designed to ensure all children — regardless of income — have the opportunity to learn essential swimming and water safety skills.

Through the 2026 funding, Alligator Steps Swim School expects to serve additional local families at its Clayton facility, further strengthening water safety efforts across the community.

Families seeking more information about the scholarship program can contact the school at (919) 243-1208 or visit www.AlligatorSteps.com
.