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The Josh Project Celebrates a Decade of Service
By Tricia Hall
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
The Josh Project celebrated the teaching of water safety in
Toledo.
The Josh Project was publicly recognized on August 8, 2017
by State Rep. Michael Ashford. Then immediately followed the
presentation as all attendees enjoyed a brief reception with
gifts and refreshments.
“I am extremely excited about making it 10 years, and we
appreciate all the support from the community. Over the past
10 years, we have learned that operating a non-profit that
provides water safety programs is hard. There are times we
did not have enough swim instructors. However, USA Swim
recently reported that the number of kids that lack swim
ability has gone down. I would love to see a public indoor
pool that we can access year-round, so kids can practice
swim skills,” said Executive Director Tankeeya Butts.
The Josh Project was founded in 2006 by Wanda Jean Butts
after the drowning of her 16-year-old son, John Josh Butts,
at Bird Lake Michigan, when the inflatable raft he was on
capsized. Josh never had a swimming lesson and did not know
how to swim at the time and could not save himself.
The Josh Project Inc. is a faith-based, not-for-profit
organization founded to educate and empower youth, by
offering educational opportunities in swim safety. Youth
between the ages of four to 18, register for only $10 and
receive four swim lessons by qualified swim instructors at
St Francis De Sales High School. |
Wanda Butts, Tankeeya Butts, State Rep. Michael Ashford
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Carla Baucom, mother of three children between the ages of
six-13 years of age, first registered her children three
years ago and appreciates what the swim lessons have done
for her children. “My two older ones can dive into deeper
water now and that wasn’t the case years ago. Wanda and I
are members of the same church, Indiana Ave, and what
happened to her son hit home for me, and Isiah Thomas in
2006. My kids needed to learn how to swim. As an educator, I
urge the students in my class to learn water safety.”
In addition to this public acknowledgement, the Josh Project
has received the following honors: a City of Toledo
proclamation in May 2011 and The Grio’s 100 in 2013 and
Wanda Butts was named one of CNN 10 heroes in 2012.
“I’m extremely proud of the work the Josh Project has done
for the greater Toledo community, especially as it relates
to promoting water safety education in minority communities.
For the past 10 years, the Josh Project has helped hundreds
of men and women, young and old, learn to swim and
understand the importance of safe water practices. I have no
doubt that their dedicated efforts have succeeded in saving
lives,” said Ashford.
According the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
nearly 80 percent of drowning victims are males, and
children between the ages of one to four are the highest at
risk of drowning. There are factors that impact these
statistics: access to swimming pools, desire to learn water
safety and lack of swimming ability. |
