summary

Mark Forster from Project Healing Waters joins the Brand Lincoln podcast to discuss the organization's mission of providing non-clinical physical and recreational therapy for disabled veterans and injured service members through fly fishing. The conversation covers topics such as the different activities involved in fly fishing, the benefits of the therapy, fundraising efforts, and how to get involved as a volunteer or participant. Mark also shares his personal journey with fly fishing and highlights some of his favorite local restaurants in Lincoln.

keywords

Project Healing Waters, fly fishing, physical therapy, recreational therapy, disabled veterans, injured service members, fundraising, volunteer, participant, local restaurants

takeaways

• Project Healing Waters is a national nonprofit that provides non-clinical physical and recreational therapy for disabled veterans and injured service members through fly fishing.
• The therapy involves activities such as fly fishing education, fly rod building, fly tying, casting, and fishing trips.
• Fly fishing offers physical and mental health benefits, including improved hand-eye coordination, concentration, and camaraderie among veterans.
• The organization relies on fundraising efforts, grants, and partnerships with local businesses to support its programs.
• Anyone can get involved with Project Healing Waters as a volunteer or participant by visiting their website or contacting the organization directly.
• Lincoln has a variety of local restaurants that support the organization and offer great dining experiences.

In this episode of Brand Lincoln, we interview Stanford Binko Bradley, the associate director of teen programming at the Malone Community Center. Stanford shares his unique nickname and how he got involved in various community initiatives in Lincoln. He discusses his work at the Malone Community Center, his involvement in the Hope Spoke extended day treatment program, and his own basketball program called Future Elite. Stanford emphasizes the importance of education and accountability in his coaching and shares heartwarming stories of the impact he has made on the lives of the youth he works with.

keywords

Stanford Binko Bradley, Malone Community Center, Hope Spoke, Future Elite, basketball program, education advocacy, youth coaching, community impact

takeaways

• Stanford Binko Bradley is the associate director of teen programming at the Malone Community Center in Lincoln.
• He is also involved in the Hope Spoke extended day treatment program and runs his own basketball program called Future Elite.
• Stanford emphasizes the importance of education and accountability in his coaching and works to support the holistic development of the youth he works with.
• He has seen positive outcomes in the lives of the youth he has worked with, with only one documented case of re-offending.
• Stanford is passionate about making a difference in the community and believes in the power of authentic relationships and support networks.

Blake and Kathy Collingsworth share the heartbreaking story of their son Joshua's drowning and how it inspired them to create the Josh the Otter water safety program. They wrote a children's book called Josh the Baby Otter to teach kids about water safety and distributed it through Rotary clubs. They also developed a free app with the book and water safety activities. Their mission is to raise awareness about the number one cause of death for children aged one to four and promote water safety education. The conversation with them focused on the importance of water safety and the efforts of the Josh the Otter Foundation to educate children and parents about drowning prevention. Collingsworth discussed the need for children to learn essential water survival skills, such as back floating, and emphasized the role of parents in ensuring their child's safety. They also highlighted the expansion of the Float for Life program, which teaches children as young as six months old to back float. Additionally, they discussed the foundation's collaborations with organizations like the Autism Family Network and the impact of their work in preventing drownings among children with disabilities. The conversation concluded with a discussion of upcoming events and the foundation's goals for the future.

keywords

drowning, water safety, children, book, education, awareness, prevention, water safety, drowning prevention, Josh the Otter Foundation, Float for Life, back floating, survival skills, children, parents, education, collaborations, Autism Family Network, disabilities, events, goals

takeaways

• Drowning is the number one cause of death for children aged one to four.
• Water safety education is crucial in preventing drownings.
• The Josh the Otter program uses a children's book and app to teach kids about water safety.
• Rotary clubs have been instrumental in distributing the book and promoting water safety.
• Parents should have conversations with their children about water safety and always supervise them near water. Children should learn essential water survival skills, such as back floating, to prevent drowning.
• Parents play a crucial role in ensuring their child's water safety and should be diligent in supervising them around water.
• The Float for Life program teaches children as young as six months old to back float and has seen significant growth and demand.
• The Josh the Otter Foundation collaborates with organizations like the Autism Family Network to provide water safety education for children with disabilities.
• The foundation's efforts have led to a decrease in drowning incidents and the inclusion of water safety education in school curriculums.
• The foundation relies on partnerships, collaborations, and volunteers to support their mission of saving lives through water safety education.