Rotary Club of Ave Maria Champions Water Safety with “Josh the Otter”

As the Rotary Club of Ave Maria nears its first anniversary, President JD Ribali reflects on a year dedicated to community impact. One of the club’s missions is childhood water safety through the “Josh the Otter” program—an initiative aimed at preventing drowning accidents among young children.

The “Josh the Otter” program was inspired by the tragic story of 2-year-old Joshua Collingsworth, who drowned in a backyard pool. His parents founded the Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation to educate families and children about water safety and prevention.

The program teaches children to: never go near water without an adult. It emphasizes both mental preparedness and physical education, encouraging early swim lessons and introducing skills like back floating as young as six months through the Foundation’s “Float 4 Life” initiative.

The campaign includes storybooks, songs, activity booklets, coloring pages, a mobile app, and even a safety pledge for families. It blends fun and learning to keep kids engaged while reinforcing lifesaving habits.

Recognizing the abundance of canals, ponds, and pools in Ave Maria, the community’s Rotary Club made this their flagship project. Since launching the effort at their first event last October, the club has distributed over 500 copies of Josh the Baby Otter at festivals like Taste of Ave and Trunk or Treat. Their long-term goal is to ensure every household with young children in the community receives a copy.

Thanks to community support and successful fundraising, the club has raised $5,000 to expand their reach—enough to purchase 2,000 more books, activity kits, Josh the Otter puppets, and other materials. These items are offered free to families, ensuring all children have access regardless of income.

Looking ahead, the club is coordinating with local homeowner associations and the Immokalee Fire Department to host in-water demonstrations at places like Ave Maria Water Park and The Club at Maple Ridge. “Seeing kids learn to roll on their backs and float, like otters do, is powerful,” Ribali said. “It could save a life.”

To learn more or get involved, visit AveMariaBiz.com/rotary.