Diving In

MAKING A SPLASH

Windermere’s Stanwood and Camano Island o ces help local kids learn to swim.

BY HALEY SHAPLEY

WHEN DECIDING WHAT CAUSES TO SUPPORT,

the Windermere o ces in Stanwood and Camano Island, Washington, took a cue from their surroundings.

Given that Stanwood is known for its seven lakes and Camano Island just o the coast, water safety is a critical issue in these scenic towns about an hour and a half north of Seattle.

Since 2018, the two o ces have been funding the Make a Splash program at the StanwoodCamano YMCA, which gives all third graders in the local school district a week of free swim lessons.

“We think swimming is such an important skill for kids to have, especially out here,” says Marla Heagle, a designated broker who owns Windermere Stanwood and Camano Island with her husband, Randy.

They contributed $10,000 in that fi rst year, thanks to more than $2,500 in donations from Windermere agents, which the Heagles then matched. In turn, that total was matched by the Windermere Foundation. This year, they raised the most yet: $12,000.

As part of Make a Splash, kids are bused from their elementary school to the YMCA for a week to learn swimming strokes. They also go over water safety techniques, understanding their limits around water, and practicing what to do in emergency situations. For many students, their families don’t have the resources for swim lessons, so it’s their fi rst time in a pool.

In addition to sponsoring the Make a Splash program, Windermere Stanwood and Camano Island work with the school district to identify families in need during the holidays, then shop for gifts for all household members. They’re also the title sponsor for the Windermere StanwoodCamano Soap Box Derby, an annual family-friendly celebration that’s the largest soap box derby race west of the Mississippi.

Having the opportunity to support the community in such a tangible way is one of the things Heagle loves about Windermere. “The buyers and sellers all want to do good, and having the Windermere Foundation makes it easy,” she says. “It makes me very proud, and it makes it easier to talk to our clients about what we’re doing in the community. We know the foundation is right there alongside us.”