Carolina Swims Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) health organization that provides FREE swim lessons and aquatherapy to children in foster care.

Vision: To prevent drowning by giving the gift of swim & water safety to all children in the foster care system.  

Mission:  Giving the gift of swim and aqua therapy instruction to children in foster care provides holistic life-saving skills to child that will help them to build mastery in their own lives (mentally & physically) through the medium of swimming. 

Drowning is preventable. There are 14,500 children in North Carolina that are in foster care and having to stay in the foster care 15% longer since 2011.   Drowning is the #1 cause of unintentional death in children 0-4 yrs and the #2 cause of unintentional death in children 5-14 yrs.  Drowning is the all time 5th leading cause of death for all ages. Drowning disproportionately affects males and individuals of minorities at a higher rate.  By giving the opportunity to foster care children to develop the physical ability, problem solving confidence, water safety knowledge of swimming  is a survival life skill.  Carolina Swims Foundation combats the rates of drowning by giving the gift of swim to children in foster care. We are passionate about saving future lives and helping children in foster care through the medium of swimming to develop mastery in their lives.  

We are passionate about helping children.  Every child deserve the gift of swimming & water safety, it is a survival life skill. Swim lessons are expensive and for foster parents the cost may be prohibitive.  Carolina Swims Foundation wants to Give the Gift of Swim & Water Safety to children.  

Our team is led by CSF Founder Sarah Chaires and her competent board members Chip Peterson and Ben Colley. Both Chip and Ben are former members of the U.S.A. National Swim Team and former Division 1 collegiate swimmers. Each team member has developed vital life skills through their commitment and dedication to the sport of swimming.  Our coaches have a thorough understanding of the impact that conquering fear, expanding comfort zones and developing new relationships can have on a youth's social and emotional well being.  We are passionate about helping children have mastery in their lives through the medium of swimming. 

Thank You to our generous sponsors in the Carolina Swims Foundation Founders Circle of Champions.  These local businesses and families are committed to changing lives in their community.