Making a Splash
Rasmia Kirmani-Frye, NYCHA’s Director of Public/Private Partnerships and the President of the Fund for Public Housing, was honored for her work to support low-income New Yorkers, including NYCHA residents, by + POOL at the nonprofit organization’s Fall Swim Gala. In 2016, + POOL began offering children living in public housing with free swim lessons through its Summer Bluefish program. In partnership with the Fund for Public Housing, the swim program has grown to serve 60 NYCHA residents (a figure that is expected to double next summer).
“The Fund for Public Housing invests in the well-being of NYCHA residents and communities by collaborating with public and private partners to reimagine and improve the way public housing works,” Ms. Kirmani-Frye said. “This honor is truly about the shared goals and values across NYCHA, the Fund, and our partners like + POOL, and I am humbled to work alongside the many people who want to make this city better for all of its residents.”
+ POOL Deputy Director Kara Meyer was equally enthusiastic about the partnership: “Having worked with Rasmia on the development of our Summer Bluefish program and learning about her efforts to invest in residents of public housing, we felt it was important to celebrate her work and highlight someone who, like the team behind + POOL, is making people think a little differently about our city.”
“There are 150,000 young people who call NYCHA home,” Ms. Kirmani-Frye added. “One hundred and fifty thousand reasons to invest in swimming lessons. We are a city surrounded by water – let’s get people swimming!”
