Since drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for children ages 1-4, The Riley John’s Blue Boot Foundation was organized for the promotion of child water safety. It is the mission of the foundation to educate the public on water safety awareness and drowning prevention in hopes that no more families have to endure the heartbreak of this preventable tragedy.

Riley John’s family experienced this heartbreak less than a year ago.  Since his death, it has become the mission of those who loved him and his adventurous soul that children just like Riley will love the water but never know how easily something that was fun is now a tragedy.  Awareness of key factors that prevent child drownings is the focus of the foundation.  The Riley John’s Blue Boot Foundation strives to work in conjunction with other child water safety programs to get life-saving information out to those who will benefit.

The Riley John’s Blue Boot Foundation will accomplish this by the following tasks.

Riley John’s Blue Boot Foundation members will attend various community activities promoting child water safety. Testimonies of Riley John’s last adventure will be shared in order to shed light on the quickness of this silent killer and ways drowning can be prevented.

Riley John’s Blue Boot Foundation is supported by a social media site utilized as a means of sharing vital education material that keeps water safety on the forefront of every parent’s mind.  Pertinent information is posted at least monthly as means of continued awareness of the importance of water safety for children.

Riley John’s Blue Boot Foundation will fund annual scholarships to the local high school seniors of Lafourche Parish in Louisiana. Recipients of this scholarship will have demonstrated an ability to promote awareness of water safety and agree to an ongoing mission to continue to promote safe water practices.

Riley John’s Blue Boot Foundation is committed to promoting water safety and will not limit activities to the above listed.  Foundation members look forward to participating in other opportunities as they arise.

Initial funding for the Riley John’s Blue Boot Foundation came from private donations and community fundraising efforts.  In order to sustain the operating cost of the foundation as well as it’s philanthropic efforts, the Riley John’s Blue Boot Foundation will host an annual fishing rodeo in Grand Isle, Louisiana.  Money will be raised by individual participation and corporate as well as private donations.  In addition to a fund-raising effort, the Blue Boot Rodeo sponsored by the Riley John’s Blue Boot Foundation will be used as a marketing tool to educate participants on child water safety.  This education will be provided in conjunction with the activities of the rodeo.