Swimming lessons for kids in NYC were at risk. A billionaire helped.

As New York City made major cuts to key programs, two city council members convinced a philanthropist to help fund a city initiative to provide swimming lessons to young children.

Last September the The city council approved a bill requiring the Parks Department to offer free swimming lessons to second-grade students in public schools, subject to allocation of city funding. But when Mayor Eric Adams repeatedly cut agency budgets, including the Parks Department, the program was in jeopardy.

The bill's sponsor, Julie Menin, a Manhattan Democrat, asked for help from the Gray Foundation, which previously funded a college savings program for public school students.

Many of New York City's wealthy donors have retreated from donating to local causes, fearing that the city's pressing problems are too intractable. Jonathan D. Gray, co-founder of the Gray Foundation, said in an interview that philanthropists should not be deterred.

“The core needs of low-income children are as acute as ever,” he said. “We think it is important to stay with that.”

The mayor's cuts to parks and libraries are unpopular. When Mr. Adams releases a new preliminary budget Tuesday for the fiscal year that begins July 1, he will spare libraries from additional budget cuts that could have forced many branches to close on Saturdays. he announced on the X social media platform. Libraries have already been forced to close on Sundays this winter and could face further cuts in April.

The Gray Foundation-funded swim program will be a pilot, providing 2,000 second-graders with swimming lessons near their homes. They can take intensive classes starting this summer, or weekly classes during the school year. The program is funded by a $1.5 million donation from the foundation run by Mr. Gray, the billionaire chief operating officer of investment firm Blackstone, and his wife Mindy.

The swimming lessons are part of a broader effort to prevent children from drowning and address racial disparities in learning to swim. Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced that expanding swimming access would be a top priority in the state this year.

Drowning is the leading cause of death in the United States for children ages 1 to 4, and the second leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 14 after car accidents. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 2017 health survey found that about one in three Black and Asian students and about one in four Latino students in New York cannot swim.

“This is a real equity issue, as many low-income communities and communities of color do not have access to free pools and swimming lessons,” Ms. Menin said.

Shekar Krishnan, the chairman of the council's Parks and Recreation Committee, who worked with Ms. Menin to create the program, said his district in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst in Queens does not have a single public pool. Of the 51 municipal districts in the city, 18 do not have a public swimming pool.

“On a hot summer day, parents just want to take their kids to the beach, but the biggest fear in their minds is water,” he says. “We hear heartbreaking stories of children losing their lives year after year.”

Asphalt Green, a nonprofit organization that offers swimming lessons in Manhattan, will run the privately funded swimming program, in partnership with a network of pools across the city. Ms. Menin and Mr. Gray hope the city will eventually be able to expand swimming lessons to all second-graders, as the Council's legislation intended.

New York City, like many other municipalities, has struggled in recent years to keep pools and swim programs open due to a shortage of lifeguards. The Parks Department offers free swimming lessonsbut there is often a long waiting list and they were suspended at the height of the pandemic.

In 2019, the city served 20,000 children through its Learn to Swim program; last summer it only offered 1,000 slots through a lottery. Private swimming lessons can cost as much as $50 for a group lesson and $100 for solo sessions.

The new program will focus on teaching children to tread water for 30 seconds and swim 20 meters in open water.