I have been sitting on some news for a while now and today is finally the day I get to share it with you. What I’m about to tell you has been years in the making. In fact, there’s a part of me that’s been carrying this since a Memorial Day weekend I’ll never forget.

The story that started it all

Years ago, my family and I were on vacation at the beach. I told everyone I’d be right back – just running inside for a few minutes. When I came back out, something was horribly wrong. Everyone was standing along the shoreline. Someone had gone under and they couldn’t find him. I frantically searched for my boys who were three and five at the time and had been playing in the sand. After the longest minute of my life, I found them near the dunes, still playing. But tragically the one who had gone under was not recovered by the coast guard until 30 minutes later. Watching that family desperately run down the beach where he was found – and then walk back without him as the ambulance carried his body away – was the most gut-wrenching thing I have ever witnessed. And here’s the part that has stayed with me all these years: that could have been one of my boys. Because I had not designated anyone specific to watch when I went inside. Having people around can actually create a false sense of security. When everyone assumes someone else is watching – no one is really watching. That’s when the idea came to me: a waterproof wristband that designates a specific someone to actively watch when kids are in or around water and can easily be passed to the next person when responsibility changes. My mom said, “It could be called Water Watch” – a play on a regular watch you’d wear.

A seed planted. Then paused. Now growing.

Back in 2012 I actually did a small launch:  got bands made, trademarked the name, sent out samples to local news. It was picked up on TV, radio, and featured in Jacksonville Magazine. And then, a month later, my life took an unexpected turn. I went through a divorce and had to go into survival mode. I put Water Watch on hold. And honestly? I carried a quiet guilt about that for a long time. A very wise advisor once told me: “It will be far more impactful when you do it from a place of readiness.” I held onto those words. Two summers ago, I was in a mastermind (shoutout to Jen Gottlieb and Chris Winfield!) and had the opportunity to ask guest speaker Dan Fleyshman a question about getting a nonprofit off the ground. Dan holds the record for being the youngest founder of a publicly traded company, so having that conversation was an honor, and honestly the nudge I needed to finally put this back into motion and hold myself accountable. Today, I’m ready. And the timing has never felt more right.

Introducing…Water Watch Foundation

A simple idea with the power to change water safety.

Water Watch Foundation, Inc. has officially been formed 🎉 and is currently in the process of establishing its nonprofit status. The mission is simple but powerful: to make designated water watching the new standard – much like car seat safety eventually became non-negotiable. Water Watch isn’t meant to replace fences, door alarms, swim lessons, or other important safety measures. Instead, it fills a critical gap that too often gets overlooked: clearly designating one person to actively watch when children are in or around water. This is more than a product. It’s a movement to change the culture around water safety – one designated watcher at a time.

The Reality – and why this needs to change 

The statistics are sobering: but they also point clearly to where change is possible.
  • Drowning is the #1 cause of death for children ages 1–4 in the U.S. (CDC)
  • Up to 88–90% of child drownings happen when at least one adult is present. (Safe Kids Worldwide / NDPA)
  • 70% of drownings happen when the child was NOT expected to be in the water. (Safe Kids Worldwide) During a gathering. Between activities. When adults relaxed for just a minute.
  • Drowning can happen in 20–60 seconds — and it is silent. (NDPA / Red Cross)
Water Watch is built around one simple idea: when children are in or around water, one person is clearly responsible for watching.

What’s happening behind the scenes

I’m calling this the pre-launch phase. Here’s what’s already underway:
  • Water Watch Foundation, Inc. is officially formed
  • An incredible board has been assembled + our official kickoff has happened
  • Other foundational pieces are in motion:  from legal and bookkeeping to website, packaging, and distribution… plus the thousand other details that go into building something like this!
The official launch is set for May 1st:  the start of Water Safety Awareness Month. That’s when the Water Watch bands will be ready to go and the full foundation will be live.

Be part of the beginning 

Water Watch Foundation is just getting started, and movements like this grow one follow, one share, one conversation, at a time. Here are a few simple ways you can help spread awareness:  🩵  Share this email with someone who has young children in their life (a parent, grandparent or caregiver)  🩵  Follow @waterwatchfoundation on Instagram: [click here] Every share, every follow, every conversation is how true change begins and I appreciate each and every one.  Also, if you know a brand, organization, or individual who might want to help bring Water Watch to life, we’re beginning conversations with potential founding partners and early supporters. Introductions are incredibly helpful at this stage. If someone comes to mind, I’d love to connect. Just hit reply. I also want to give a heartfelt thank you to Robin Berlinsky (a nonprofit executive director as well as a mentor to other nonprofits through The Abundant Nonprofit) who has been an invaluable resource giving me the courage to go for it.  
  Your Life Organizer will absolutely still be part of my world – these two missions live side by side in my heart. In many ways, the YLO’s organizing principles I share are what make work like this possible. Thank you for being here, for reading this far, and for being part of a community that I believe can help change something that matters enormously. More soon.🩵 With so much love and excitement, Angie