TOLEDO, Ohio — After the tragic drowning of her 16-year-old son Josh in 2006, Wanda Butts refused to let grief define her life. Instead, she transformed her loss into a mission to ensure other children in Toledo learn how to swim and stay safe around water.
The Josh Project, founded by Butts, aims to provide affordable swimming lessons and water safety education to youth ages 5 through 17 across the community. Executive Director Lawrence Butts said, “Josh did not know how to swim, he did not know what water safety was.”
Since its inception, the organization has worked tirelessly to reach every school and church in the Toledo area, hoping to equip children with vital skills that can prevent drownings.
With warmer weather on the horizon, the need for swim lessons is greater than ever. The Josh Project has already enrolled approximately 75 children for its upcoming summer sessions and is calling on volunteers and instructors to assist with lessons scheduled on several Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. throughout June and July.
Yark Automotive recently demonstrated community support with a $1,300 donation to help fund the project’s efforts.
Volunteers interested in helping can reach out by emailing [email protected]. The organization hopes that with continued support, it can save lives by empowering Toledo’s youth with essential water safety knowledge.