On September 21, the YMCA of South Florida Beach Ball brought together nearly 500 of the community’s leaders to support its water safety and drowning prevention initiative. The event is held to raise funds for free swim lessons and water safety instruction for children and adults. This year, with a focus on spreading awareness on the effects of non-fatal drownings on the victims and their families, the event raised more than $400,000 in support of water safety and drowning prevention.

The YMCA recognized Barbara and Philip Wong as Life Saver Award recipients for their $1 Million gift to build an Aquatics Center at the South Dade YMCA, which will provide swim lessons and water safety education to kids and families in the South Dade community.

Held at the InterContinental Miami, The Beach Ball featured awards and recognition, music and entertainment by Heatwave, a Wine Wall fundraiser and a live auction. Proceeds raised from the event will go towards financial assistance for free swim lessons for children and adults who cannot afford it. Annually, the YMCA teaches more than 30,000 people to swim and provides more than 3,000 free swim lessons.

This year’s YMCA Beach Ball was supported by Brown & Brown Insurance, Bacardi, BB&T, Delta Air Lines, Miami HEAT, Publix Super Markets Charities, and other local businesses, organizations and individuals. To learn more about the YMCA of South Florida or its drowning prevention initiatives, please visit www.ymcasouthflorida.org or call 954.334.9622.