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2015 Donations Announced

March 18, 2016

$15,000 committed by Drennen’s Dreams to support drowning prevention and youth development

Centennial, Colo. (March 16, 2016) – The Drennen’s Dreams Foundation is extremely proud to announce a $15,000 commitment to support drowning prevention initiatives and to encourage the leaders of tomorrow made possible by the support of donors and sponsors in the local community.  This financial commitment is a 25% increase over support given in 2014.  The Drennen’s Dreams Foundation, a stand-alone 501(c)3 non-profit, was created in 2014 and is a successor organization to the Drennen’s Dreams fund at the Denver Foundation.  The fund was founded in the fall of 2012 by Bill and Melissa O’Melia after the death of their son, Drennen Peter O’Melia, in a tragic drowning at a local community pool in June of 2010.

The foundation carried out its mission in 2015 by providing donations to non-profit organizations which were divided into two categories to match the mission of the organization:  swimming pool safety and youth organizations that support the leaders of tomorrow.  Organizations that received donations included: The American Red Cross, the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, Local Park and Recreation centers, Littleton Youth Sports; and the Littleton Public Schools Foundation.  Funds to the LPS Foundation were designated for lifeguard training, a contribution to the Class of 2016 class gift at Arapahoe High School and other ongoing programs within the district.  Drennen O’Melia would have been in his senior year at Arapahoe High School.

A major initiative in 2015-2016 is sharing Drennen’s story with Lifeguarding staff and aquatics facilities managers. Word has spread quickly about Drennen’s story, presentations delivered by Bill O’Melia, Drennen’s father, and our common goal to make lifeguards lifesavers. Drennen’s Dreams receives requests from parks and recreation departments and aquatics facilities throughout the state.  To date, over one thousand Coloradoans have heard the presentation.  This education is provided at no cost to local pools, country clubs and Denver metro area Park and Recreation centers.  Details and available dates for scheduling can be found at www.drennensdreams.org.

“It is wonderful to be able to witness the Drennen’s Dreams Foundation continue to execute on its core mission of increasing awareness around pool safety and drowning prevention,” says Dave Hanna, board president of the Drennen’s Dreams Foundation.  “Though our partnerships and financial support of like-minded organizations, and especially our outreach efforts, we are making a difference in educating the community.  We want everyone to share our belief that drowning is preventable.  This is only possible by the incredible generosity of our supporters.”

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