It was a great day in Ft. Lauderdale the weekend of May 7 when Bob Ogoreuc, president of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, was recognized with the 2011 G. Harold Martin Award, conferred by the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
The award is given annually to an individual who exemplifies “long and exceptional leadership, insight and dedication to the water safety of children and the cause of making ‘Every Child a Swimmer.’”
Here's what the news release shared this week-timely as we are about to embark on another hopefully busy Memorial Day Weekend.
“It’s wonderful to have our president honored in this way. The NDPA has been promoting water safety since its founding in 2004, and Bob has been instrumental in helping the Alliance to achieve its mission to be a catalyst in the prevention of drowning. In recent years, the group has expanded our focus on promoting swimming as an important ‘layer of protection,’” said Kim Burgess of Ft. Lauderdale, National Drowning Prevention Alliance interim executive director.
“Not connected to the award, but as another milestone for the NDPA,” Burgess says, “the National Drowning Prevention Alliance recently moved its offices to the ISHOF headquarters, and we are excited and grateful to be associated in this way with the International Swimming Hall of Fame.”
“Bob was a natural choice for this award,” said Bruce Wigo, ISHOF president and CEO. “He’s devoted his career to teaching aquatics and he volunteers in numerous capacities. Bob constantly shares his love for, and appreciation of, the vital role of swimming in saving lives. He has worked with the Ocean City Beach Patrol, with the American Red Cross, and with numerous other organizations to promote swimming and to train others in water safety and rescue techniques.”
“I am humbled and honored to be chosen for this award,” said Ogoreuc, an assistant professor at Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. “It’s not only a personal milestone, but I’m pleased that it will bring more attention to the important work being done by the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, especially, our partnership with the CPSC’s Pool Safely campaign.”
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance is currently working on a federally funded, national public education program that complements the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool Safely campaign. The Pool Safely campaign aims to reduce childhood drownings and prevent drain entrapments through public education, training programs and strategic partnerships. The campaign fulfills requirements of the VGB Pool & Spa Safety Act, which became a Federal law in 2007.
Replies
Laurie,
Thanks for sharing this with us. As a father of an eleven month old, any campaign to reduce childhood drowning is a worthwhile cause that needs all of our support.