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Dear Prospective Contributor:

The Baby Otter Scholarship and Education Fund (BOSEF) is a proposed offshoot of the Turn Kick Reach Swimming Academy and Baby Otter Swim School. The current for-profit entity, Baby Otter Swim School is the result of over 28 years of teaching swimming safety and drowning prevention to all ages from 10 months to retirement age.

The TKR (Turn Kick Reach) Swimming Program is a proprietary teaching program developed and trademarked by the company’s principals during the past 28 years. The program was developed after one of the principles was unable to find any program that would teach her 2 year old to swim. This child had no fear of the water and would just walk into the pool thinking it was a game. The other principal became involved ten years later after her daughter was found at the bottom of a pool and had to be resuscitated. Since that time the for-profit entity has been promoting drowning awareness, pool and swimming safety, and teaching people to swim using the TKR method through the Baby Otter Swim School (BOSS). The program allows a loving and secure environment which enables children to learn in just five days focusing on drowning prevention.

Over the years, TKR-BOSS has been approached by both underprivileged and special needs individuals and groups, either directly or through referrals from previous clients, parent’s teachers and other entities familiar with the success of the program, wanting services provided to these different groups. As time and resources were available BOSS provided free training and classes to as many of these children and adults as possible. From these first few classes, the demand for this special training has continued to grow, culminating in the formation of this new non-profit program dedicated to reaching this underserved segment of society. Hence, Baby Otter Scholarship and Education Fund, Inc (BOSEF) was formed.

Over the past ten years, awareness of the therapeutic and medical benefits of aquatic training for special needs children and adults has become more acute. BOSS has had significant success with all types of special need individuals, including autistic children, Down Syndrome children, and those affected by blindness, deafness and cerebral palsy.

In addition there is the need to provide the TKR method to those children who do not have access to pools or swim instruction because of economic and family circumstances: the indigent; the underprivileged and single parent and/or low income families. The founders believe there is a growing need to expand their program in this market.

In developing and researching how to extend the TKR program to this segment of the community, it was determined that because of the special needs of all of these individuals, there needed to be modifications of the TKR methodology and a dedicated facility specifically designed to meet those needs. In addition, to the obvious program

modifications the need for more staffing, time and specific space requirements; there also needs to be a central location and resource center for training the trainers, and providing for the on-going improvement of teaching methods and materials that are needed to support these programs. The facility would focus on providing certification in swimming instruction, CPR, and specifically the TKR method which is the underlying basis of our program. These programs would allow our graduates to train others to teach the TKR method in a consistent and standardized manner around the country at schools, parks, community groups and related public venues.

There has been significant community and corporate interest that helped create the need for and gave rise to the creation of this non-profit entity. The parents of our infants and child graduates have encouraged us to develop more special need programs. Many medical professionals, educators, and even local civic and political leaders are aware of the program and have promised support and participation. Several major corporations and organizations have pledged support through sponsorships and fund-raising activities to help us get started. The principals and founders of the for-profit Marlene Bloom and Mindy York intend to sit on the Board of the non-profit, while becoming the primary spokespersons, fundraisers, and instructors of the non-profit programs.

We have established two scholarship programs. One for special needs children called “The Whitney and Antonio Scholarship for Special Needs Children”. The second is named in memory of one of our students called “The Arielle Scholarship for Underprivileged Children”.

We are seeking donations at this time to make this a reality. Please contribute to this wonderful cause and/or share with family and friends to help us help others who need our services.

We are thanking you in advance for your generous donation.

YOUR DONATION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD’S LIFE. PLEASE HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Respectfully,
Baby Otter Scholarship and Education Fund, Inc.

For more Information, click on respective links.

Business Information:
Mindy & Marlene

Phone:
954-792-7929

To view and print a copy of the non-profit scholarship application, please click here.

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