Tampa Bay Swim School’s Merry Melon Giving Tree Aims to Brighten the Holidays for Families in Need
Tampa Bay, FL – Watermelon Swim, the premier swim school in the region, has kicked off its 17th annual Merry Melon Giving Tree. This heartfelt initiative is designed to provide local families in need with a complete holiday experience, including gifts, meals, and much more. This year, the program has welcomed 38 families, which includes a total of 112 children, to fulfill their holiday wish lists.
Supporting Underserved Communities Since 2007
Since its inception in 2007, the Merry Melon Giving Tree has served thousands of Tampa Bay residents, ensuring that underserved communities have access to essential holiday gifts and resources. The program is not just about material gifts; it has evolved to include invaluable resources for families facing difficult times. This year introduces a new element to the program—offering swim lesson scholarships to ensure a safer and more enjoyable experience in the water.
New Swim Lesson Initiative
Watermelon Swim has announced that it will match all swim lesson donations, providing scholarships to families in need. Micha Seal, founder and CEO of Watermelon Swim, emphasized the importance of water safety, saying, “Spreading our mission of water safety is at the heart of everything we do. We look forward to the Giving Tree all year long, and offering swim lessons, in addition to wish lists, felt like the missing piece. Everyone deserves access to water safety and drowning prevention.”
Making a Community Impact
Annually, Watermelon Swim contributes nearly $1 million in charitable donations to the Tampa Bay community. This includes over $350,000 dedicated to partial and full scholarships for swim lessons, particularly for swimmers with disabilities. In addition to the Christmas program, Watermelon Swim provides free water safety education to over 3,000 students in classrooms across the Bay area.
How the Program Works
From now until December 19, families, staff at Watermelon Swim, and members of the local community can pick up a Giving Tree ornament at any of the four Watermelon Swim locations. Each ornament will display a variety of wish list items suitable for all ages and the unique opportunity to gift life-saving swim lessons. To ensure a full Christmas for every family involved, all donations will be matched by Watermelon Swim.
Participating in the Merry Melon Giving Tree
In addition to picking up ornaments in person, community members can contribute by purchasing gifts through a curated Amazon Wish List. All donations will be collected until December 19, after which the items will be organized for distribution from the company’s location in Wesley Chapel at 30016 County Line Rd.
Get Involved
For those interested in learning more about the Watermelon Swim Merry Melon Giving Tree, including how to make a donation, additional details are accessible on their website. This initiative not only helps fulfill holiday wishes but also promotes safety and education within the community.
