Grandmother makes it her mission to prepare community's littlest swimmers
(Photo Provided) Little Donovan Kessler, below, and his love for the water lives on through the Donovan Kessler Little Swimmers Scholarship Fund at the Whitley County Community Foundation. Kessler's grandmother is planning a fundraising community cookout on May 31 to raise funds to support scholarships for needy families to take swimming lessons -- in hopes a family can avoid the tragedy of losing a child to drowning.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
Living at a lake, constantly looking at water and contemplating children near water, a day doesn’t go by that Tammy Azar doesn’t think about her grandson. 
From her home overlooking Big Lake, just over the county line in Noble County, she sees the beauty and enjoyment of water, but also, unfortunately, the dangers.
“He was fearless,” Azar said of her grandson. “He loved the water and he was wanting to swim whether it was June or November.”
Unfortunately, the toddler never truly learned how to swim.
A little over a year ago, on March 1, her grandson Donovan Kessler found his way into a fenced, locked swimming pool while on vacation with his family and drowned. Azar said she knew her grandson had always been drawn to water and it was something that terrified her.
Since her grandson’s death, Azar has learned of other families who have suffered similar losses and in the hopes of making even one child more capable of surviving a fall into the water, she’s trying to raise funds and awareness.
Last year, Azar initiated an endowment fund through the Whitley County Community Foundation called The Donovan Kessler Little Swimmers Scholarship Fund. The goal of the fund, Azar said, is to provide resources for families to pursue swimming lessons for their children when they might be otherwise unable to afford them.
Azar realizes that in tough economic times, a family may be more likely to spend their money in other ways – but knowing well the life or death impact of knowing how to swim, she wants to encourage parents to pursue swimming lessons for their little ones. And, by making funds readily available, she hopes to lessen the financial burden.
On May 31, from 4-7:30 p.m., Azar and a group of volunteers are planning a community cookout featuring hot dogs, chips, baked beans or applesauce, desserts and drinks. Admission is $5 per adult and $4 for children. All proceeds will benefit the Donovan Kessler Little Swimmers Scholarship Fund.
Azar and others have been working diligently over the past few weeks securing hundreds of door prizes and sponsorships for the event. Fortunately, Whitley County, a very giving community, has been supportive of her efforts in planning the event – donating countless items for the event.
“There’s a lot of stuff,” she said.
In 2007, Azar planned her first fundraising event for the fund which has raised $2100 to date. She believes that would fund approximately 4-5 scholarships, but she wants to raise more so that the swim lessons would be available to even more children.
“I want to put it into an endowment fund and find matching funds to support the fund long term,” Azar said.
“I just don’t want other families to go through what we’re going through,” she said. “If I can help, I want to.”
Thus far, sponsors for the event include Alarie Chiropractic, Aldi, Aladdin, Andy’s Car Wash, Arby’s, Auto Zone, The Bargain House, Big G’s, Bob Evans, Brew Ha, Cadbury Schwepp’s 7Up American Bottling Company, CC Deli, Churubusco Package Liquor, Crossroads Inn, Culligan, The Dock, DQ Grill & Chill, Espich Printing, Family Video, Fry’s Auto Care, Gas America, Golden Corral, Kernel Colada’s Snack Shack, Lassus Brothers, Lewis Bakeries, Lowe’s, The Lube Center, Magic Wand, Meijer, Menards, Oliverz, Paige’s Crossing, Pak-A-Sak, Papa John’s, Pizza King, Pizza Hut, The Post & Mail, Richard’s Restaurant, Sherri’s Place, Shroyer’s True Value Hardware & Variety, Subway, Target, Toys ‘R Us, Walgreens, Wal Mart and Wendy’s.