Coast to coast, we are arming our ambassadors with the educational materials to save lives! This program will allow us to fund and send our ambassadors 1,000 pamphlets to distribute, a poster to display, a banner, a table and a canopy for events. We are proud to introduce these amazing individuals as our first quarter ambassadors. You can also show your support through donating here today!
"Hi, my name Heather Babcock. I am wife and mother to three children. I live in Mount Clare, West Virginia where I work as a Latent Fingerprint Specialist and teach acro dance classes. On August 28th, 2015, my family received the worst call of our lives. Carissa went missing while swimming in a river in Maine. Her body was recovered the next morning. We keep her light shining through our non-profit in her memory, Carissa’s Caution, which teaches children and their family how to find safe places to swim in natural bodies of water."
Sarah Bennett
Seattle, Washington
"Like many people, I found my way to this important group through tragedy. In 2016 we lost our nephew Jackson in a drowning accident. Before that day, I had never heard of childhood drowning as a leading cause of death in children under 5. I had no understanding of how often these accidents actually happen, and how little information is provided to parents and caretakers to help them create safety barriers. I am really passionate about how powerful education is as a prevention tool to save children’s lives, and want to be an ambassador for change in honor of our beautiful nephew Jackson."
"Hello, my name is Cory Brockelman. I am married to a wonderful man and a stay at home mom with 3 boys ages 12, 9, and 18 months. In August of 2018 we had a near drowning experience with our 18 month old. He was brought back to life using CPR and it was a very traumatic day for all of us. We received a second chance by the grace of God so I do not want to let this experience go to waste. I am 100% dedicated in this mission and am overjoyed to see the difference we are going to make together in raising awareness in preventing childhood drownings. "
Karen Faust
Orlando, Florida
"I am a wife and mother of 2 graduates of the ISR program. I found out about ISR when my son was 1. My husband and I debated doing the lessons for about 6 months. I knew drowning was the leading cause of death in children and my husband was adamant about not having pool. Once we started the lessons I knew we had made the right choice and I found my passion. I became an instructor in 2007 and have been excited to teach everyday! Swim lessons are only a part of the layers of protection and I enjoy being part of the Drowning Prevention Community. By joining PPCD my voice has joined with many others and we are stronger than ever before."
"My husband, Luis and I live in Hainesport, NJ with our three kids. We are both Police Officers and live a crazy on the go life between shift work and kids activities. My interest in becoming a member of this organization stems from my daughter nearly drowning in my backyard pool on June 26, 2018. I want to help parents to become more aware of how often this does happen. We hear so much about car seat safety, SIDS, etc. but drowning is the leading cause of accidental death of children ages 1-4. Why is this not spoken about? I am guilty of thinking that it would never happen to me but it almost did and now I will never be the same."
Jennifer Lowke
Palm City, Florida
"Within two weeks of putting my children through ISR lessons, I knew I wanted to become part of the survival swim movement. In 2001, I trained to become a certified ISR instructor and have, since then, taught well over 1,000 students. After realizing ISR was my passion, I went on to become a Master Instructor in 2003 and was provided the opportunity to train over 40 new instructors across the country.
Bringing ISR to new communities and sharing information with parents about the importance of drowning prevention is one of my greatest passions in life, and I feel extremely blessed to be part of ISR’s mission of Not One More Child Drowns. For 17 years, I have strived to teach survival swim techniques to as many children as possible who are between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. I look forward to meeting you, learning about your family and helping your child grow.
Madison Marchegiano
Liberty Hill, Texas
"My name is Madison Marchegiano and I am a strong advocate for Drowning Prevention. My goal is to put an end to childhood drownings. I have founded the Colt Catalina Foundation after the loss of my dear friend's son to raise awareness for Drowning Prevention & Child Safety. One of the foundations main missions is to provide infant survival swim lesson scholarships to those in financial need. Our hope is that no other family has to go through the unimaginable pain his family has suffered."
"My name is Robyn Miller and I am mother of four young boys. I have been teaching CPR / First aid for 6 years, and have a passion for helping aid others with skills to save lives."
Lynn Smith
Las Vegas, Nevada
"My name is Lynn Smith from Las Vegas, Nevada. I am a mother of three and a grandmother of eight. Two years ago I lost my grandson, Jackson, to a drowning when he was 18-months-old. What I have learned in this time period has been eye-opening and frankly life-changing. I want others to hear this strong message of PPCD. There is a lack of public knowledge about toddler drownings. Taking precautions and becoming educated will save many lives. PPCD is here to do just that!"
Heather Spurlock from Jacksonville, FL. Mother of 3, Steven II, London, and Jeremiah. I’m a Medicare Appeals analyst and an ISR instructor. My goal is to be full time ISR next year.
"In May 2013, our son Steven II drowned at daycare. He was 2 1/2 years old. We believed that the mommy and me lessons and his puddle jumper meant he was safe. We had no idea that neither would protect him. After a few years of grieving and asking what we were supposed to do with losing Steven, it was laid on my heart to be an ISR instructor. My background is in early childhood education and what better way to apply it than with children and in the water teaching survival swim?"
"I have been a Physical Therapist for 15 years and became an ISR instructor in December 2017. I have three boys, ages 9,7 and 5, who have all been ISR trained from 8 months old-15 months old for their initial lessons, and return every year for refreshers. I'm one of only 3 instructors in the Central Ohio area, and we are trying to reach as many children as we can to make them safe in and near water."
Desiree Whisman
Dallas, Texas
"I am a born and raised Texan spending most of my life in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area. I have 4 children and an amazing husband. I became an ISR instructor after being a biology teacher and a Pediatric ICU nurse. As an ISR instructor, I am able to still work with children and have an impact. In this way, I can save lives proactively rather than reactively as I was in the hospital setting. I can also still have beautiful relationships with kids and their families. My five years as an Instructor has been amazing thus far and I am looking forward to many more."
"I have two teenage sons. My oldest son was 2.5 years old when he had a non-fatal drowning in a swimming pool surrounded by parents, children, a lifeguard and myself. I rescued him and realized at that moment how little I knew about drowning. A couple years later teaching drowning prevention skills became my vocation as I completed training to become a Certified Infant Swimming Resource Instructor. I am honored to continue to educate the very young and not so young about water safety and drowning prevention as an ambassador for Parents Preventing Childhood Drowning."
Michelle Zieg
Charleston, South Carolina
"My name is Michelle Zieg. We share our story in hopes that it does not become your story. In June of 2008 our 17 month old son, Brayden, slipped out the back door with his 3 year old brother unnoticed. In the mere moments they were missing, Brayden found his way to the pool and drowned. We had taken the time to research safety measures... but hadn’t gotten around to putting anything in place. We have since learned that drowning is not only the #1 cause of unintentional death for children ages 1-4, #2 up to age 14; but drowning is also 100% preventable. We started Because of B.R.A.Y.D.E.N. because our desire is to educate families on the simple steps they need to take to be safer around water."
Please welcome these amazing people to our team in the effort to end childhood drowning! You can help them NOW by donating to the program to fund these materials. Visit the Donate Smarter fundraising site here. The ambassadors will also set up individual projects to meet their goals. Thank you for your help in the mission to end childhood drownings through awareness and education.