Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority & USA Swimming Expand Partnership

Cary, NC – Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and USA Swimming will sponsor the 2017 Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) biennial World Junior Swimming Championships being held August 23 – August 28, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Sigma Gamma Rho is the presenting sponsor and is the first African American organization to hold this distinction.

The event is open to female athletes aged 14-17 and male competitors aged 15-18. The six-day meet will welcome nearly 1,000 Olympic hopefuls from more than 100 countries. All events will be held at the newly-refurbished Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This agreement expands the sorority’s five-year old partnership with USA Swimming and designates it as the only non-profit sorority involved in this world-class event. “It’s exciting to see the continued growth of our partnership with Sigma Gamma Rho as it elevates to the international stage with the sponsorship of the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships,” said Tim Hinchey, President & CEO of USA Swimming. “With the organization’s strong ties to Indianapolis, this event presents the perfect opportunity to showcase the unique relationship Sigma Gamma Rho has with USA Swimming.”

Both organizations have agreed to collaborate and combine resources behind this event, as each wish to maximize the significant potential to further its’ mission. “The sponsorship between USA Swimming and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority will increase awareness about our Swim 1922” partnership, named for the year our sorority was founded. The program aims to increase swim participation and decrease drowning rates in our communities,” contends Deborah Catchings-Smith, international president, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority.

Last year alone, nearly 20,000 sorority members and affiliates participated in 117 swim clinics across the United States. These clinics, coordinated and often led by U.S. Olympic silver medalist and sorority member Maritza McClendon, yielded more than 2,500 swim lessons.

“This partnership is a game changer for Sigma Gamma Rho as it aligns with our mission and strategic planning goals,” Catchings-Smith says.

A recent study by the USA Swimming Foundation revealed a 5-10 percent improvement amongst America’s youth in overall swimming ability from its previous findings in 2010. The study was conducted by the University of Memphis and University of Nevada-Las Vegas. USA Swimming attributes much of this decline to the sorority’s efforts.

About Sigma Gamma Rho
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., an international collegiate and non-profit community service organization, was founded in 1922 on Butler University’s campus in Indianapolis, Indiana. It has welcomed more than 90,000 members that have joined the organization as undergraduates and professionals. Official affiliate groups include Rhoers (young girls) and Philos (friends of the sorority). The sorority has more than 500 chapters in the United States, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Germany, Korea and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is the mission of the sorority to enhance the quality of life for women and their families in the U.S. and globally through community service. Programs, initiatives, and partnerships are devoted to progress in the areas of education, healthcare, political action, and leadership development. It is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina and is a member of the Pan Hellenic Council’s Divine Nine.” For more information, visit www.sgrho1922.org.

About FINA
The Fédération Internationale de Natation, founded in 1908, is the governing body for aquatics worldwide. FINA’s five discipline Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Diving, Water Polo and Synchronised Swimming are all included in the Olympic program. High Diving made its first appearance in FINA events at the 2013 FINA World Championships. FINA counts 207 affiliated National Federations on the five continents and has its headquarters in Lausanne (SUI).

About USA Swimming
As the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States, USA Swimming is a 400,000-member service organization that promotes the culture of swimming by creating opportunities for swimmers and coaches of all backgrounds to participate and advance in the sport through clubs, events and education. Our membership is comprised of swimmers from the age group level to the Olympic Team, as well as coaches and volunteers. USA Swimming is responsible for selecting and training teams for international competition including the Olympic Games, and strives to serve the sport through its core objectives: Build the base, Promote the sport, Achieve competitive success. For more information, visit www.usaswimming.org.