UNCLE TOBYS will extend its partnership with Royal Life Saving Society – Australia until 2015, it was announced today.
Over the next three years, UNCLE TOBYS will donate a further $500,000 to Royal Life Saving Society – Australia to help give thousands of Australian children the opportunity to learn to swim and raise the importance of water safety in the community. This brings UNCLE TOBYS commitment to Royal Life Saving Society – Australia to more than one million dollars since 2009.
The announcement follows the release of statistics this week that showed 34 children aged 0 to 14 drowned last year – a drop of 19 per cent on 2010 figures.
UNCLE TOBYS Sponsorship and Digital Communications Manager, Angela Kominatos, said the drop in drowning deaths in this age group showed the partnership’s initiatives had started to make a difference, but there was still a long way to go.
“The drop in the rate of children drowning is encouraging but we need to keep reducing this figure and give more Aussie kids the opportunity to learn to swim and raise awareness about water safety,” she said.
“Over one million dollars has been committed to Royal Life Saving Society – Australia since 2009, to support their Swim and Survive program and other key initiatives. This year alone, we have helped the Society provide free or subsidised swimming courses to over 6,500 less fortunate kids.”
Ms Kominatos said over the next three years UNCLE TOBYS and Royal Life Saving Society – Australia would continue to implement many exciting new initiatives to help teach less fortunate kids how to swim and survive.
“Over the next stage of our partnership with the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia we will be inviting the community to support us and assist with raising funds and awareness to help save children’s lives – it’s an exciting road ahead.”
Royal Life Saving Society - Australia CEO Rob Bradley, said, “UNCLE TOBYS has been a wonderful partner and we are delighted that our important work in child drowning prevention will continue into the future.”
“We could not have achieved the dramatic impact on the swimming and water safety education in recent years without the support of UNCLE TOBYS.”
Olympic gold medallist and UNCLE TOBYS ambassador Cate Campbell said she is proud to be a part of such a great partnership that is going to make a real difference to children’s lives.
“Every child in Australia should be able to access swimming and water safety classes and it is terrific to see UNCLE TOBYS and Royal Life Saving Society – Australia working together towards this goal,” she said.
UNCLE TOBYS is proud of its continued support of some of Australia’s most inspiring athletes, including Olympic and Paralympic Swimming champions Cate Campbell, Matt Cowdrey, Eamon Sullivan, Emily Seebohm, Bronte Campbell and James Roberts.
For more information about UNCLE TOBYS and Royal Life Saving Society – Australia’s activities, visit www.facebook.com/swimkidsoz or www.royallifesaving.com.au.
Media contact:
Anita Catalano
Media Relations Manager
Nestlé Australia
Ph: 02 8756 2388
M: 0406 403 397