NMMA and Hennepin County Host Life Jacket Giveaway to Promote Water Safety
On Friday, August 15, NMMA partnered with the Hennepin County Sheriff Foundation to host a successful life jacket giveaway at Lake Nokomis Beach in Minneapolis. The event brought together local families, law enforcement, and marine safety advocates to promote safer boating during the summer season.
Minnesota law requires children under 10 to wear a life jacket while a vessel is underway. Because a proper fit is critical, the event focused on providing families with correctly sized life jackets and educating them on smart, simple water safety practices.
More than 150 life jackets were distributed and fitted by trained volunteers, with many families expressing gratitude for the guidance and resources shared on-site.
Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt shared her support for the initiative saying, “This collaboration between the NMMA and the Hennepin County Sheriff Foundation is a tremendous opportunity to promote water safety among youth and families. We want every child to wear a life jacket and enjoy Minnesota’s waters safely. We encourage families to come out and take advantage of this important community resource.”
Minnesota State Representative Emma Greenman (DFL-Minneapolis) added, “In a state and a region blessed with abundant lakes and rivers, water safety is important for our communities. I appreciate Sheriff Witt and the Hennepin County Sheriff Foundation, along with NMMA, working together to ensure that Minnesota kids have access to properly fitted life jackets and water safety education. I’m proud to support initiatives like these that save lives and strengthen community safety."
Jesse McArdell, NMMA’s Senior Manager, Midwest Government Relations, said, “Partnering with the Hennepin County Sheriff Foundation allows us to put safety tools directly into the hands of the families who need them most. Our lakes and rivers are part of Minnesota’s identity, and we’re proud to help ensure every child can enjoy them safely.”
Events like this highlight the value of collaboration between local government and national industry partners to ensure that every family has access to critical safety tools.