TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — A local real estate company plans to donate swim lessons for every home sold.
"It's a $500 contribution that we make per every closing regardless of the sale price of the house," said Hendrik Bisanz, Broker with Seasalt Properties.
Seasalt Properties will donate every time they sell a property to Water Smart Tot.
Each donation will allow one child to receive free swim lessons.
"We are a local company and we thought about giving back locally so I figured water is our element. I knew that drowning in America is a serious issue," said Hendrik Bisanz, Broker with Seasalt Properties.
Drowning is the leading cause of death in Florida for children under the age of 4.
Water Smart Tots, a non-profit, has provided life-saving lessons around the water to more than 200 children in Hillsborough County. The non-profit helps families struggling financially.
"We've awarded scholarships to a little more than 200 children and the lessons are valued at over $40,000 dollars," said Kari Bahour, Drowning Prevention Specialist with Water Smart Tots.
The swim lessons in a 6-week course where children learn a variety of skills.
"They're taught to swim with their head down in a completely horizontal posture when they're tired and need to breathe they roll onto their back and float," said Bahour.
The founder of Water Smart Tots, Kari Bahour, believes all infants and young children should have essential life-saving skills regardless of financial hardships.
Bahour said she hopes to help more families by working with their partners in real estate.
Charles Singleton said his grandson received swim lessons before he could even talk.
"It was important to introduce him to the water at an early age and at first he was water shy and he would cry a lot, but it's a confidence booster and he loves it," said Singleton.
To learn more about Water Smart Tots and how to help visit: http://www.watersmarttots.org/.
