The Florida Swims Foundation (Foundation) is proud to announce that they reached 3,000 pre-orders of the “Swim for Life” specialty license plate. This milestone puts the plate into production in the state of Florida and will be available for pick up in early 2025.
Funds raised through sales of the specialty plate will provide lifesaving swim lessons to children throughout the state of Florida. Each license plate sold equates to one swim lesson provided to a child in need each year.
“We are ecstatic that we have reached the required threshold of 3,000 pre-orders to move the ‘Swim for Life’ initiative forward with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV),” says Don Ball, Florida Swims Foundation Board of Trustees President. “Our Foundation is now in the position to elevate and expand its reach through lifesaving swim lessons in communities throughout the state.”
Launched in 2022 after passing key legislation to establish the project, the “Swim for Life” initiative was spearheaded by the Foundation as a new source of funding and mission-building. The team at the Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA), which houses the 501(c)(3) Foundation, created the eye-catching design that features a bright blue pool, palm trees and a colorful sunset.
“The successful completion of this first step of the ‘Swim for Life’ initiative is thanks to many individuals, including our hard-working staff who helped lead this program from the very beginning,” says Elizabeth McMurray, FSPA CEO. “Our internal team, Board of Directors, FSPA members and external stakeholders have shown incredible commitment to not only achieving this license plate goal, but also fortifying our future as an organization.”
In February 2024, an anonymous donor offered to cover the first-year fees for a select number of license plates to help spur the campaign to reach the 3,000- pre-order milestone. This feat was achieved in October 2024.
“Thank you to both the gracious donor who helped secure this project’s success, and to the thousands of Floridians who believe in our mission to save children’s lives through water safety,” says Ball.
The “Swim for Life” license plate is now available for all personal and business vehicles, including fleets that use standard, non-commercial license plates. The cost is $30 per plate each year on the vehicle registration.
To order the “Swim for Life” license plate, please visit SwimForLifeFlorida.org.
For more information about the Florida Swims Foundation, please visit FloridaSwims.org.
