Bounce, The YMCA and Black Kids Swim Team For New Water Safety Public Service Initiative

A new public service initiative, specifically targeted toward black families (i.e. parents/guardians and children) raises awareness for water, pool and swimming safety, was announced via PRnewswire. The release cites the CDC saying that “African-American children drown at 5.5 times the rate of other children.” Also going on to cite the USA Swimming Foundation/University of Memphis informing that, “70% of African-Americans do not know how to swim.” This initiative is a production of Bounce, the “first and only” over-the-air broadcast television network for black people. For this initiative Bounce partnered with the YMCA of the USA and Black Kids Swim, an online family resource for black swimmers. The initiative consists of PSAs to encourage water and pool safety, as well as other social media based content. Featured in the PSAs is Olympic medalist Maritza Correia McClendon. McClendon “made history as the first black woman to earn a place on the United States Olympic Swim Team and went on to become the first to earn an Olympic medal (2004 Athens).” The PSAs aired Memorial Day weekend and are being shared with Bounce’s affiliates to air as well. Alongside the television efforts, social media strategies are being employed, consisting of spots and editorial content (provided by Bounce and Black Kids Swim) promoting the initiative and linking back to the YMCA of the USA’s program, “Safety Around Water.”

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bounce-the-ymca-and-black-kids-swim-team-for-new-water-safety-public-service-initiative-300464101.html