YMCA of South Florida's Beach Ball 2025 Gala Aims to Combat Child Drowning Epidemic

The YMCA of South Florida will host its annual Beach Ball Gala on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, with the event serving as the primary fundraiser for the organization's water safety and drowning prevention initiatives. The gala, themed Olympian Tides, begins with The Gathering at 6:30 PM, followed by The Feast and continuing with The Bacchanalia, bringing together more than 600 community leaders and supporters for an evening of cocktail reception, dinner, live entertainment, dancing, and auctions.

All proceeds from the event support financial assistance for the YMCA's aquatics programs, including free and subsidized swim lessons for underserved youth, wet and dry safety lessons, Swim for Jenny programming, and resources for families to prevent drowning tragedies. Florida leads the nation in child drownings across all age groups, with Broward and Miami-Dade counties reporting the highest number of drowning deaths in the state. Statistics reveal that at least 40% of children have little or no swimming ability, a figure that rises to 64% among some minority populations.

The YMCA's swimming programs demonstrate significant impact, as formal swimming lessons reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88%. Annually, more than 50,000 children and adults receive drowning prevention and water safety training through the YMCA of South Florida. Many of these lessons are funded through the organization's Aquatic Financial Assistance Program, ensuring accessibility regardless of financial circumstances. The YMCA's eight-lesson drowning prevention program teaches children essential water safety skills, while the Mobile Aquatics program travels to low-income neighborhoods to educate both children and their caregivers.

YMCA of South Florida CEO Sheryl A. Woods emphasized the critical nature of continued funding, stating that every life saved represents a shared victory for the community. The organization also highlights the danger of underwater hypoxic blackout, which occurs when individuals playing breath-holding games experience accidental blackout leading to rapid drowning. This risk affects people of all ages and poses particular danger to strong swimmers who may overestimate their capabilities.

The event enjoys substantial corporate support, with Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino serving as title sponsor and Nicklaus Children's as presenting sponsor. Additional supporters include Brown & Brown Insurance, Bacardi USA, Publix Super Markets Charities, Related Group, Milner, Spirit Airlines, Ryder, Club Med, ANF, Matrix, Gulf Building, JM Family Enterprises and Royal Caribbean Group. Sponsorship opportunities range from Diamond level at $25,000 to Silver level at $3,000, with early bird tickets now available. For more information on Beach Ball 2025, including sponsorships and tickets, please visit https://ymcasouthflorida.org/beach-ball/.

The broader implications of this fundraising effort extend beyond immediate water safety education. For every child who loses their life to drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries, representing significant healthcare costs and long-term consequences for families. The YMCA's comprehensive approach addresses both immediate safety needs and long-term community health outcomes, particularly in regions with high drowning rates and limited access to swimming education.