WCHS students are making a splash in the lives of aspiring young swimmers. In today’s world, many sports are organized in a pay-to play structure, where the purchase of expensive equipment and training is required to participate. With the rising costs of equipment, uniforms, coaching and facilities, children from lower-income families are often excluded from pursuing their dreams of participating in sports.
WCHS students are hoping to turn the tide on this issue, specifically within the world of swimming. Waves4Change is an organization created by WCHS sophomore Maximus Devinney that collects donations of swim gear from swimmers all over Montgomery County to distribute to underprivileged children with aspirations to become swimmers.
“[Wave4Change’s] mission is to inspire, support and empower kids to swim by making swimming more accessible,” Devinney said. “We are collecting new and gently used swim gear donations and building an inclusive and diverse community so every kid has the opportunity and access to the amazing benefits of swimming.”
Devinney was inspired to start his organization after a teammate went out of his way to make sure he had the right swim gear. This broadened Devinney’s view and helped him realize that simple acts of kindness can make all the difference in the lives of others.
“Before my [swim] race, he noticed that I did not have a tech suit, which is a piece of expensive high-tech gear that I had never worn before,” Devinney said. “Without hesitation, he handed me his own tech suit. I swam my personal best, shaving off three seconds. That race was the turning point for me, teaching me that courage is about showing up being your best even when it seems hopeless.”
WCHS sophomore Natalie Sidawy is the Chief Operating Officer of Waves4Change. In her role, she handles much of the outreach which has greatly helped to grow and develop Waves4Change into the successful organization it is now.
“I am in charge of bringing in donations by reaching out to companies, community pools, universities, schools and individuals,” Sidawy said.
Sidawy feels that swimming must be made more accessible, not only to level the playing field when competing, but also to ensure water safety can be taught to children of all financial backgrounds.
“Swim gear can be very expensive, so making sure that everyone has access to the basic necessities to learn this potentially lifesaving sport is very crucial,” Sidawy said. “As a competitive swimmer, I especially know how important it is to have the right gear.”
In less than a year, Waves4Change has inspired many swimmers to join the cause, brought in astonishing numbers of donations and even earned partnerships with swim organizations across the U.S. However, Devinney is not done, and he plans to continue his work and expand the organization even further.
“We have collected over 1,340 pieces of donated swim gear that have totaled to over $60,600 in value, thanks to the amazing generosity and support of our donors and partners in the community,” Devinney said. “And we are just getting started! This was all accomplished within our first nine months since launching.”