Community Corner
Winthrop Resident Who Swam English Channel Awards Medals to Swim Campers at Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence
Winthrop resident Kim Garbarino, who overcame numerous odds to swim across the English Channel in 2012, inspired a new generation of swimmers at the closing ceremonies of ZAC Camp at the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence (BGCL) on April 25.
Sponsored by The ZAC Foundation, the free swim safety camp provided more than 100 local 6- to 9-year-olds with swimming classes, classroom curriculum, and other hands-on activities over four days. The hour-long ceremony concluded with a taped message of encouragement from Boston Celtics forward Brandon Bass, who discussed his experiences learning to swim at age 28 during his visit to BGCL on April 15.
ZAC Camp is named for 6-year-old Zachary Archer Cohn, who drowned as a result of being entrapped in the suction of a swimming pool drain. ZAC Camp is part of a national partnership initiative undertaken by The ZAC Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America to bring lifesaving water safety skills to more than 2,500 kids from 25 Clubs across the country. BGCL was selected through a rigorous application process due to its commitment to advancing water safety locally.
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About The ZAC Foundation
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The ZAC Foundation was established in 2008 by Brian and Karen Cohn after the loss of their 6-year-old son, Zachary Archer Cohn, in a pool drain entrapment in their backyard swimming pool. Through education and advocacy, the Foundation is dedicated to preparing children and their families for a lifetime of water safety. To learn more about The ZAC Foundation, connect with us on Facebook and thezacfoundation.com.
About the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence
The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence provides a safe, after-school haven for more than 3,400 youth (ages 7 to 18) to come for hot meals, homework help, fitness and nutrition programs, college and career planning, and lasting personal relationships. The club offers critical programs that focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles, and community involvement at two locations: the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence at 136 Water St., and the Beacon Boys & Girls Club at 71 Duckett Ave. For more information, visit www.lawrencebgc.com.
