More than swimming: A life-saving mission

If you've ever wondered exactly what The Riviera Club Foundation does, you're not alone.

"I remember getting those first emails when the Foundation started and thinking, 'I don't know what the Foundation does,'" says Foundation Board President Katie Moynihan Gray. "And I honestly don't know that that's changed for a lot of Members."

So let's start with a simple answer.

The Foundation exists to share one of the Riviera Club's greatest strengths with the broader Indianapolis community: the resources to save lives by teaching others to swim.

Why do 95% of Members join the Rivi? The pool.

For most of us, swimming has always been a part of life. We learned as children. We taught our own children. We think of swimming as recreation, competition, exercise, and summer fun.

For many families, however, the water equates to fear and danger. Access to swimming lessons, pools, and qualified instructors is far from guaranteed for many families in Marion County - in fact, Marion County has a higher rate of drowning than the national average.

That is where the Foundation comes in. But its mission to help others develop life-saving skills through swim lessons and water safety education doesn't always look the way you might expect.

"Sometimes the win is getting a child to put their face in the water," says Executive Director Carrie Kirk. "Sometimes it's blowing bubbles. Sometimes it's simply helping a fearful child step into the pool."

Through grants and donations, children from partner organizations including Coburn Place, SHEroes, Freewheelin' Community Bikes, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Indianapolis Public Schools come to the Riviera Club year-round for lessons and safety programming.

Some kids arrive excited. Others arrive nervous or terrified. Some have never been in a swimming pool before and may need a swimsuit.

What they leave with is often much more than swimming skills.

One of the Foundation's most meaningful partnerships is with Coburn Place, an organization that provides housing and support for families recovering from domestic violence.

Last summer, children from Coburn participated in swim lessons and water safety education, as well as activities in the Riviera Community Garden.

"I appreciate the individual attention provided to each of our children, many of whom are recovering from trauma," said Teia Sherrell, Children's Services Coordinator at Coburn Place. "Swimming helps them feel more centered and relaxed. There is structure in your program and trust built between each swim instructor and the child he or she is working with."

Trust.

It's not the first word most people think of when they think about swim lessons. Yet it may be one of the most important.

Coburn Place Child Advocate Ruth Davis observed that when children cross the threshold into the pool area, both literal and metaphorical barriers are being broken. The swimming community is opening its doors and embracing children who may never have imagined themselves in that space, she said.

That idea — opening doors — is central to the Foundation's mission.

The Riviera Club's history, like the history of many institutions founded in a different era, is not without complexity. There was a time when access to the Rivi and its pools was not equally available to everyone. While we cannot change that history, we can continue to learn from it.

Since it was formed in 2019, the Foundation has been helping ensure that children and families who wouldn't otherwise have access can learn to swim, stay safe in the water and build confidence that carries beyond the pool.

In 2025 alone, the Foundation facilitated swim lessons for 681 students, provided water safety education in the classroom to 456, and served more than 1,800 individuals overall, including donating over 900 pounds of produce to Boulevard Place Food Pantry with the Riviera Garden Group. But as Carrie is quick to point out, the numbers only tell part of the story.

"The data matters," she says. "But the stories matter too."

Those stories are found in the child who finally lets go of the wall and floats.
The student who discovers confidence in the water.
The child who not only learns to swim but expands their world to new people and opportunities.

Many Rivi Members may not realize that much of this work is carried out by fellow Members contributing their time and talents because they share one core belief: swimming should be a common life-saving skill, not a privilege.

As the Foundation's summer programming gets underway, you may notice groups from community partner organizations on campus. When you do, know that you are witnessing the Foundation's mission in action.

Children are learning to swim.
Families are gaining confidence.
Barriers are being removed.
Future drownings are being prevented.
And lives and cycles are being changed.

"This is something Rivi members should be proud of," Katie says. "We have this incredible resource, and we're using it to make our community safer and stronger."

The Foundation is more than an organization connected to the Club. It is one of the ways the Rivi shares its gifts with and serves the broader community.

Are you ready to get involved?

The Foundation's impact is powered by Rivi Members. The simplest way to support the Foundation is to learn about its work, ask questions, and help tell its story. The more Members understand the impact being made beyond the pool, the stronger that impact becomes. There are many additional ways to support the mission:

Become a Swim Instructor
Many instructors are Members who want to share their love of swimming. No competitive background is required — just patience, enthusiasm, and a passion to teach others. The Foundation can help interested members obtain Water Safety Instructor (WSI) certification through the American Red Cross.

Volunteer
Volunteers help with events, community outreach, administrative projects, photography, fundraising efforts, and other special initiatives throughout the year.

Join the Garden Group
The Riviera Community Garden serves as both an outdoor classroom for children and a source of fresh produce for the Boulevard Place Food Pantry. Garden volunteers help plant, maintain, harvest, and share the bounty with our neighbors.

Make a Donation
Financial contributions help provide items such as swimsuits, goggles, towels, transportation assistance, instructor training, and program supplies.


Questions? Email Carrie Kirk, director@rivifoundation.org.
Learn more at https://www.rivifoundation.org/.