At KNR, we are deeply committed to protecting the lives of children in our community. In loving memory of Nanye Barber, a vibrant 15-year-old who lost his life in a drowning accident, we are proud to sponsor complimentary swim lessons for children throughout Ohio.
We were honored when Nanye’s mom approached us, sharing her heartfelt desire to prevent similar tragedies by teaching essential water safety skills.
Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death among children, and we believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn how to stay safe in the water. This initiative is not only about teaching kids to swim—it’s about safeguarding futures and ensuring no family has to experience the pain of losing a loved one to a preventable tragedy.
Nanye’s Mom, Darnita Timmons shared, “My deepest wish is that no other family has to endure the pain and loss we have experienced. While nothing can bring my son back, I hope that sharing his story will encourage other parents to take swim lessons and water safety seriously. I am deeply grateful to Kisling, Nestico, & Redick for honoring my son’s life with their generous donation of swim lessons. Working with the KNR team, we both truly believe that swim safety is invaluable and can save lives.”
Please complete the form below to apply for free swim lessons for your child. Spaces are limited, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Submitting an application through this website does not guarantee approval or placement in swim lessons. All applications are subject to review, availability, and program capacity. KNR is fulfilling this opportunity through the Nanye Barber Tribute Fund up to a total of $5,000. KNR reserves the right to make final determinations based on eligibility and available resources.
*Your information will only be shared with the selected swim school and KNR’s email list. Once your child’s details are sent to the swim school to coordinate lessons, they will be securely deleted from our system.