At Red Stick Mom, we are on a journey to continuously learn about the importance of supporting our neighbors in marginalized communities where disparity is far too prevalent, specifically in the black community. We’ve been happy to share in supporting various black-owned local businesses and are having conversations with our kids about race. We want to continue to show support which is why are highlighting local organizations who are working diligently to serve our neighbors of color in the Greater Baton Rouge area. Our hope is to raise awareness about the great work they are already doing and share it with others. We are excited to put the spotlight on an amazing non-profit organization called Tankproof.
How did Tankproof start?
“We’re the Thomas brothers, Thurman and Torrence Thomas. We are musicians and creatives by trade (under the moniker, “THEBROSFRESH”) and we’ve had the opportunity to do some notable work in those fields. Tankproof was born in 2011 from a desire to give back. We were inspired by watching an internationally televised benefit concert and thought, ‘What can we do using the little influence that we have back home to change our community?’ The thought of swimming lessons popped up and we did our research and were astounded by the stats. At that time, 70% of minority kids didn’t know how to swim, African American children are 5.5x more likely to drown, and drowning is the leading cause of death for toddlers. These stats and others prompted us enough to want to “do” something to change this. 2,300 kids and counting later we’re looking to bring this life skill to even more youth.”
What Does Tankproof Do?
Tankproof provides education and essentials to help youth navigate life’s currents. Through quality swim instruction and community feedings, they aim to provide access, equity, and opportunity to advance the trajectories of the youth they serve and even save lives.
The goal is to give each young person a broad understanding of water safety and precautionary measures, while at the same time, giving them a foundational level of skill and comfort in the water.
“If they were to ever find themselves in a danger, our hope is that we properly 
equipped them to save themselves.”
The Tankproof Mission
The core mission of Tankproof is to actively make as many youth as we can water-safe. With our team of qualified instructors, we are able to give a necessary life-skill to youth who may not be able to afford quality swim instruction.
How you can support Tankproof
Anyone can support Tankproof by donating, becoming a partner with us, or simply spreading the word about the good being done in the lives of the youth we serve.
To stay up to date about the latest news, be sure to follow Tankproof ::
Website • Facebook • Instagram
If you’re interested in nominating an organization to be featured in our Red Stick Be The Change Spotlight, please email us at [email protected].
