Starting Summer With A Splash!

Today, I kicked off our fifth year of Operation Splash at the historic Griffith Park Pool. Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, Operation Splash will offer youth and adults 6,000 free swim scholarships at 35 pools in underserved Los Angeles neighborhoods. In addition, 49 participating pools will offer free training for 780 youths to introduce them to the junior lifeguard program where they can learn about pool safety, water rescue, first aid, and CPR. Lastly, seven Los Angeles City pools will extend their season one week through Labor Day, serving an estimated 10,000 participants.

On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, I would like to express my gratitude for Kaiser Permanente's support of Operation Splash again this year. This year's $250,000 grant brings Kaiser Permanente's five-year cumulative total support to almost $2 million to the City of Los Angeles.

This was not just an investment in opening a few pools -- this was an investment in the quality of life for our children and the community. Pools are not just a place to cool down during the hot summer months. They are a place where children can begin the life-long, healthy habit of regular exercise, meet new friends and hold their first job as a lifeguard.

Most importantly, they serve as a sanctuary away from the streets. I've always said that City government's most important responsibility is to protect its citizens and dedicating resources to youth development is a key part of our gang-prevention strategy.

We look forward to another great summer of Operation Splash, bringing fun for L.A. kids and families at our pools. For more information about Operation Splash and the summer pool schedule, call the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks at 323 906-7953 or email at [e-mail].

 

Follow Antonio Villaraigosa on Twitter: www.twitter.com/villaraigosa

Comments

[johnincalifornia]

01:34 PM on 06/27/2010

What's alarming about this posting by LA Mayor Villarigosa is that he is thanking fake not-for-profit Kaiser Permanente for their "goodwill" which is merely advertising. What Villargiosa might want to do is actually quantify the scant legitimate "community benefit" that is provided by Kaiser Permanente and he'd see that Kaiser's tax exempt status is utterly unjustifiable. Tax-exempt Kaiser Permanente reported over $2.1 Billion dollars in PROFITS in 2009 thus paid NOTHING in taxes. Had Kaiser not been allowed to get away with keeping a bogus tax exemption, there were be far more services in LA County than a free swim.

Mayor Villargiosa you are praising the same exact company that has been caught dumping patients on Skid Row (19xx - present), cheating autistic patients out of care (2010), and abusing its employees to the point that they are so desparate that it destroys their families (Lupoe family, 2009).

[citizen1787]

03:21 AM on 06/27/2010

“““On July 13, Villaraigosa's companion, KTLA reporter Lu Parker, sent out a tweet announcing that she was attending a Beyonce concert that night at Staples Center. It was the same day Villaraigosa announced that the city would not bill Staples' owner, Anschutz Entertainment Group, for the cost of city services provided at the arena's Michael Jackson memorial. Hours after a mayor's spokesperson told a Times reporter that Villaraigosa was not attending the Beyonce concert, the mayor's office put in a rush order for a proclamation for the singer, to be presented by Villaraigosa in person that night. The certificate recognized her "international success and contributions to the entertainment industry."

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/politics/villaraigosa-free-ticket-scand/”

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/politics/villaraigosa-free-ticket-list/””