About Goggles for Guppies
Goggles for Guppies, a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation, was founded in 2011 by southern California twin swimmers Chris and Matt Hales. We are a volunteer organization that distributes donated swim equipment to financially challenged children while providing community service opportunities for athletes as well as for intermediate and high school students who need to fulfill their community service requirements for graduation.
Since our beginning, we have distributed over 50,000 new swim suits, caps and goggles to encourage financially challenged, at-risk children to learn to swim. We aggressively solicit and accept donations of unsold swimming inventory from sporting goods manufacturers, distributors and retailers for distribution to learn-to-swim programs internationally and throughout America that provide basic, life-saving swimming skills to disadvantaged kids. Today, we are also proud to be the exclusive distributor of donated swim equipment for the USA Swimming Foundation's Make-A-Splash initiative.
"The Make-A-Splash initiative has experienced exponential growth since its inception in 2007 and has granted $2.5 million to provide free or reduced cost swimming lessons to children who might not otherwise have the chance. To date, more than 2 million kids have received the life-saving gift of swim lessons through the Make-A-Splash Local Partner network, comprised of more than 600 qualified lesson providers across the nation". Click here for additional information about Make-A-Splash.
Dear Goggles for Guppies,
SLST would like to share their story about the gifts some of our swimmers received from Goggles for Guppies.In late August 2012, Hurricane Isaac hit the New Orleans Metro area. It was not a severe storm to the rest of the world, but to our swim community it was impactful. Our team practices in the suburbs of New Orleans and operates a satellite team in Laplace, Louisiana. Hurricane Isaac flooded and displaced nearly 80% of the homes in their parish. We had 25 families affected, and 10 who were homeless for months. These families also lost all of their material things including swimsuits, swim bags, fins, snorkels, goggles...etc. Goggles for Guppies graciously sent us swim suits, goggles and caps at the perfect time.
Thank you so much,
​Kier Braendel
504-256-6554
SLST Head Coach/owner
Dear Goggles for Guppies,
​On behalf of KATY Aquatics, I would like to thank "Goggles for Guppies" for your generous support to our organization. We are very grateful for your help in providing our learn-to-swim program with 20 swim suits. Your donation has greatly impacted our SwimAmerica program and their families.
​The objective of KATY Aquatics is to educate the public on the importance of teaching children the life saving skill of swimming and water safety. With the help of donations from supporters such as you, we will continue to see improvements in our efforts among local families needing assistance in the KATY area. Your generosity and commitment towards youth swimming is sincerely valued.
Best wishes,
​Cyhthia Stubbins
SwimAmerica Manager
KATY Aquatics
Dear Chris and Matt,
I wanted to thank you for all the goggles you sent to Cleveland Heights-University High School. The goggles made such a difference for the students!!
The first class to use goggles was our adapted swimmers. They were so happy and amazed that they could see underwater. Their swimming changed immediately. They were now putting their faces in the water, blowing bubbles, going under to look at each other and very quickly adding limb movements with their faces in the water! The smiles, laughter, giggles and goggles are priceless.
Most of these students are the first in their families to ever learn how to swim. The goggles, as you are very aware, make such a difference when learning how to swim. You have made such a huge difference in so many lives.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!
​Connie Manypenny
Aquatic Director