Applications open soon
The swim scholarship
We pay Waterloo Swimming in Austin directly for a child’s eight swim lessons. The family pays nothing toward the lessons.
One scholarship
- 8 Lessons of thirty minutes each, taught by professional instructors.
- 4 hrs In the water with an instructor, in a small group.
- $0 Paid by the family. The Foundation pays the swim school in full.
Application to last lesson
Four steps, and the lessons cost the family nothing.
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A family applies
One short form: which route below applies to the child, and how to reach you.
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We pay the swim school
Nothing for the family to front and nothing to claim back afterwards.
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Waterloo places the child
The swim school sets the level and the schedule with the family directly.
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Eight lessons happen
Thirty minutes at a time in the water with an instructor, at no cost.
Who can apply
Any one of these three qualifies a child.
You do not need to meet more than one.
School meals
The child receives free or reduced-price school meals.
A CEP campus
The child’s school serves free meals to every student. You do not need a letter. Austin ISD has 69 such campuses in 2026–27. [Austin ISD, 2026–27 CEP campus list]
Foster care
The child is in foster care.
We take your word for it. A signed line saying the child qualifies is the whole of it — we do not ask for tax returns, pay stubs or Social Security numbers, and we do not ask about immigration status.
Where lessons happen
Waterloo Swimming, in Austin.
Youth learn-to-swim classes hold up to four students, and up to three at the two entry levels. [Waterloo Swimming, Learn to Swim, retrieved August 2026]
Lessons run once a week for eight weeks. If that schedule is hard for your family, tell us and we will try to find a time that works.
Know a child who should have this?
Families, caseworkers, counselors and school staff — write to us and we will tell you the moment applications open.