Building a Community of Water Safety
Our Why
Every child deserves the chance to be safer around water.
The Jasper Ray Foundation was created in memory of Jasper Ray — a joyful little boy who loved exploring the world and looking for the moon.
After Jasper drowned in a pool without four-sided fencing, his family transformed their grief into action, creating an organization dedicated to preventing childhood drowning.
The crescent moon in our logo honors Jasper’s memory and serves as a reminder to look out for one another.
Today, we work throughout Orange County and beyond — connecting children and families with swim scholarships, prevention resources, water safety education, and community support.
4th Annual 5K Fun Run for Water Safety!
Join us this October in Huntington Beach for a 5K, music, food, and family fun - all to support swim lessons and water safety education.
Mission
The Jasper Ray Foundation helps families be safer around water through swim scholarships, water safety education, community partnerships, and advocacy.
Vision
A future where every child has the opportunity to learn water safety skills, every family has access to prevention resources, and no family experiences the tragedy of drowning.
Our Values
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Drowning is preventable - prevention saves lives.
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Equity matters — water safety is a right, not a privilege.
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Community is the solution — prevention takes all of us, working together
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Education empowers — knowledge and skills save lives
Drowning is a Preventable
Tragedy
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Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1–4.
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From 2017–2021, California recorded 4,166 drowning incidents among children in this age group.
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These incidents included 234 deaths and 846 hospitalizations.
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Swimming pools were involved in 65% of fatal drownings.
*Source: Agran, P. F., et al. (2024). Drowning Among Children 1–4 Years of Age in California, 2017–2021. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, 25(5), 838–844.
