HOUSTON — The YMCA of Greater Houston and Reliant provided free swim lessons and water safety education to 320 underserved children on July 8, 2026. The event took place from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Weekley Family YMCA, located at 7101 Stella Link Road in Houston.

Instruction as part of the Safety Around Water program included floating, the front crawl, CPR, and other lifesaving techniques. Reliant has supported the program for eight years.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4. Data from the American Red Cross indicates that 64% of African American children, 45% of Hispanic/Latino children, and 40% of Caucasian children possess few to no swimming skills.

Stephen Ives is the president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Houston. Sidney Evans is the director of community engagement at Reliant. The YMCA aims to reach more than 18,000 children through its aquatics programs across the Greater Houston area.