BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University swimming and diving teams will host a Make a Splash fundraiser on Saturday, April 28 at the Preston Recreation Center.

The Make a Splash program is a national child focused water safety initiative created by the USA Swimming Foundation that educates parents through a national awareness campaign and saves lives by joining forces with grassroots learn to swim programs. Beginning the weekend of April 13, WKU swimmers began teaching lessons to the local community, a service that is highly regarded in the area and has created a positive alliance between the community and WKU athletes.

"The premise is that we are really saving lives because of the amount of water that surrounds our area here in Bowling Green," WKU coach Bruce Marchionda said. "I think it's really important that every kid has an opportunity to learn how to swim. By making people more aware of the Make a Splash Foundation it is promoting the awareness of the ability to swim."

Several members of the WKU swimming team are members of USA Swimming, the National Governing Body of the sport. This 300,000 member service organization is designed to promote the culture of swimming by creating opportunities for swimmers and coaches to participate and advance in the sport. Part of their philanthropic mission is to strengthen the sport by saving lives through their Make a Splash program.

All donated proceeds will go to the USA Swimming Foundation.

"We need to give back to the community," Marchionda said. "It is a very vital part of what we do here and when you have a swimmer like Claire Donahue, who is visible nationally and can support the program and get kids excited about learning how to swim, that is really important."

Former Lady Topper and current member of the USA National Swimming Team Claire Donahue will be on hand from 8:30-10:30 a.m. to sign autographs for fans. Donahue won a pair of gold medals at last year's Pan American Games and will compete this summer at the USA Swimming Olympic Trials for a chance to represent the USA at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Please contact WKU Swimming at danielle.grobmyer@wku.edu for more information on the event and the Make a Splash mission.