Goldfish Swim School Gifts Babies Born at Pittsburgh-area AHN Labor & Delivery Hospitals with Swim Lessons

Babies Born from July 2024 through June 2025 will Receive Three Months of Complimentary Swim Lessons for a Total In-Kind Donation Value of up to $3.6 Million

PITTSBURGH – Allegheny Health Network (AHN) is pleased to announce an impactful gift from Pittsburgh-based Goldfish Swim School for all babies born at AHN West Penn, Forbes, Jefferson and Wexford hospitals starting this summer.

Goldfish will gift all newborns delivered from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 with three months of swim lessons which can be redeemed any time before the child is 15 months old. Goldfish will also waive all annual membership fees for eligible swimmers and provide a free swim diaper for baby’s first lesson.

In total, the gift has an estimated in-kind value of up to $3.6 million.

Goldfish Swim School has three locations in the Pittsburgh area: Wexford and Fox Chapel in Allegheny County, and Peters Township in Washington County. In 2023, more than 7,200 babies were born at West Penn, Forbes, Jefferson and Wexford.

“We couldn’t be more grateful for our ongoing relationship with Goldfish Swim School and their generous leadership team,” said Marcia Klein-Patel, MD, PhD, chair of AHN Women’s Institute. “This very special birthday gift not only promotes safe water skills but also provides an opportunity for parents to bond with their babies during a critical time in the postpartum period.”

Parents can redeem their classes beginning at their baby’s four-month mark and take advantage of weekly “mini level swim classes.” During these lessons, a parent or guardian can swim alongside their littlest fish for the duration of the 30-minute class. Guided by a trained, lifeguard-certified instructor, babies work on their coordination, balance, and strength.

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics (doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2008.563) by researchers from the National Institutes of Health showed that participation in formal swimming lessons was associated with an 88% reduction in drowning in children ages 1-4.

“Our commitment to teaching swim safety is woven into everything we do, and every decision we make,” said Scott Payne, owner of several Goldfish locations. “With the knowledge that drowning is the top cause of accidental death for children 4 and under, we hope that expanding our relationship with AHN will make swim lessons more accessible for new families in the communities we serve.”

When AHN Wexford Hospital opened in 2021, Goldfish Swim School provided all babies born within the first year a free month of swim lessons to use before their first birthday at the school’s Wexford location. To ring in the 2024 New Year, Goldfish Swim School also provided the first baby born across AHN with complimentary “lessons for a lifetime.”

“By offering structured play time, swim lessons provide an excellent time for mother and baby to bond together and develop a routine around a consistent activity,” continued Dr. Klein-Patel.

Allegheny Health Network’s Women’s Institute is home to five labor and delivery units across western Pennsylvania at West Penn, Jefferson, Forbes and Wexford hospitals, as well as Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie. Including Saint Vincent, the network welcomed 8,500 babies into the world last year.

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About Goldfish Swim School:
Goldfish Swim School is the premier learn-to-swim facility for kids ages 4 months to 12 years. They incorporate a holistic philosophy, The Science of SwimPlay®, to build life skills both in and out of the water using play-based learning in a fun and safe environment. For more information, please visit goldfishswimschool.com/