Continuing with its effective water safety campaign, the Miami HEAT is dedicated to teaching kids of all ages throughout South Florida to understand the importance of swimming safely. Former HEAT Assistant Coach and current HEAT Summer Programs Liaison Tony Fiorentino visited Pembroke Falls Aquatic Center in Pembroke Pines on July 8 and Milander Pool in Hialeah on July 17 to motivate and encourage hundreds of kids who are learning to swim this summer.

In an effort to stress the importance of water safety to children of all ages throughout South Florida, the HEAT has teamed up with the American Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Florida Keys (Dade County), Swim Central (Broward County) and local television affiliate CBS4’s ‘Neighbors-4-Neighbors’ in support of the initiative.

Along with Fiorentino, the HEAT Xtreme Team and Burnie the HEAT mascot came out to entertain the kids, give away ‘Learn To Swim’ T-shirts and participate in the fun.

Throughout the past summer months, HEAT players Caron Butler, Brian Grant and Vladimir Stepania, who was a top-ranked junior swimmer in his native Republic of Georgia, and Jerome Beasley, the HEAT’s second-round pick (33rd overall) in the 2003 NBA Draft, have come out to support the cause and encourage hundreds of children to learn to swim. Earlier this month at a HEAT ‘Learn To Swim’ event Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe Martinez presented a proclamation to Miami-Dade Park & Recreation Director, Vivian Donnell-Rodriguez, in recognition of National Aquatic Week.