Rising Tide Effect to Host First-Ever Charity Event at The Rockaway Hotel + Spa

The non-profit organization will be hosting a charity event with Summer House Martha’s Vineyard Star Jordan Emanuel and Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones to help raise money for their various programs serving New York City.

The Rising Tide Effect (RTE) is a non-profit organization of staff and volunteers that share the conviction that water safety and learning to swim are fundamental to being a human on earth. Their mission is to eliminate death by drowning, particularly in those underserved socioeconomic regions and groups that are most vulnerable.

On June 9th, the Rising Tide Effect will host their first-ever fundraiser at The Rockaway Hotel + Spa hosted by Michi Jigagirgan, Terence Turbidy, IGC Hospitality, and Speedo’s Swim United. The poolside event will feature live music from DJ Jordan Emanuel of Bravo’s Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard, an appearance by Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones, passed bites, and drinks, as well as a silent auction including a week-long stay in a luxury bungalow at The Rockaway Hotel + Spa, a signed Ryan Murphy poster, and round-trip tickets to anywhere from JetBlue. Additionally, Speedo has stepped up with a $10,000 donation to Rising Tide Effect and will be providing gear for all participants. Tickets are available here; individual tickets cost $75 and will give the opportunity for 2 youths to participate in the program. Supporting tickets cost $150 and will give the opportunity for 4 youths to participate in the program. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available upon request.

This summer, Rising Tide Effect will be launching a first-of-its-kind pilot Summer Employment program for NYCHA youth ages 16 – 24 years old. This specially designed program empowers and prepares youth for aquatic professions in New York City while providing holistic support and necessary tools for personal growth and success in life.

In addition to the pilot program, Rising Tide Effect will be running two other programs on the peninsula. The first is at Ocean Park Apartments, where, after a successful pilot in 2022, residents will once again have access to free swimming lessons.  The second is at The Rockaway Hotel, where the young men from St. John’s Residence will learn to swim, as well as children experiencing homelessness or who are in a domestic violence shelter.

The Rockaways in the Queens borough of New York City, historically a racially and economically divided community, are unfortunately no strangers to drownings at their beaches. The average age of a person drowning in the local waterways is 16, and typically occurs where there is no lifeguard present. The only way to prevent and lower these numbers is by making swimming lessons and water safety education accessible to all.

Built with a deep commitment to honor Rockaway’s vibrant culture, The Rockaway Hotel + Spa is an inclusive space activated year-round with social impact initiatives, a core tenant of the hotel’s ethos. Upon opening in September 2020, the hotel offered the only functioning pool on the peninsula at the time, both as a hotel and as a community hub, and prioritized a swimming initiative with a grant from 7G Group. The grant allows the non-profit organization to offer free swimming lessons in the early morning before the guests come down to the pool for the day.

RTE strategically partners with local businesses and organizations to teach swimming and water safety to its students while also providing nutritious, balanced meals. With the Swim Initiative at The Rockaway Hotel in its third summer, RTE has taught over 120 students to swim and educated 800 residents about water safety. This summer, RTE is estimated to teach upwards of 250 people to swim and 750 more about water safety. “Drownings are 95% preventable – this type of work in the Rockaways and New York City, both in and out of the water, for an ocean-facing community, is essential,” said Krause, the organization’s Executive Director.

ABOUT RISING TIDE EFFECT:

The Rising Tide Effect is a non-profit organization committed to promoting water safety and swimming education in underserved communities. Through strategic partnerships and a passionate team of staff and volunteers, the organization provides free swimming lessons and water safety education, empowering positive change and bringing joy to individuals in need. For more information, visit www.risingtideeffect.org

ABOUT THE ROCKAWAY HOTEL + SPA:

The Rockaway Hotel, an urban beach getaway for surfers and cultural enthusiasts, opened its doors in September 2020 in Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York. The year-round hotel offers a respite from the city bustle through a modern-day retreat to the Rockaway peninsula, boasting an outdoor pool area, a rooftop, a spa, four food and beverage outlets, and an expansive event space. The Rockaway Hotel ushers in a new wave of visitors to the destination, celebrating the legacy and hospitality of one of New York City’s most beloved beaches.

ABOUT SPEEDO’S SWIM UNITED:

Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death in kids, disproportionately impacting minority and low-income households. As the World’s #1 swimwear brand, Speedo encourages every family to take swimming lessons and significantly reduce the risk of drowning for everyone. When kids learn to swim, they not only gain confidence and improve physical fitness, they’ll also gain an essential water safety skill they can use their entire life.

Speedo partners with USA Swimming DEI Dept., Diversity in Aquatics, No More Under, Pool and Hot Alliance, V3 Aquatics, and Rising Tides throughout the year to provide swim lessons to the communities most impacted. By forming alliances with expert organizations who share Speedo’s philosophy, we can bring the joy of swimming to more people and help remove systemic, economic, and cultural barriers. For more information, click here.