Carolina Swims Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization that provides FREE swim lessons and water safety instruction to Children in Foster Care.

Vision: To give the gift of swim & water safety to all children in the foster care system in all 100 counties in North Carolina.  

Mission: To reduce the rates of unintentional drowning in children while helping children in foster care develop mastery in their own lives (both mental & physical) through the medium of swimming.  

Drowning can be prevented. 14,500 children in North Carolina are in Foster Care and staying in the Foster Care System 15% longer.  We are passionate about saving future lives and helping children in Foster Care through the medium of swimming to develop mastery in their lives. “According to the Center for Disease Control, more than one in five fatal drowning victims are children younger than 14. In predominantly minority communities, the youth drowning rates are 2-3 times higher than the national average” (Gilchrist, Parker).

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.