Community Cares: Live Like Jake

Local Foundation Raises Awareness and Funds to Prevent Childhood Drowning 

Losing a child is something no parent should  ever go through.  After losing their son in a drowning accident in 2013, Keri and Roarke Morrison made it their mission that no parent should go through the same experience they did.

They founded the Live Like Jake Foundation after their son’s tragic passing at only 2 years 10 months old. Live Like Jake preserves their son’s memory while helping to prevent childhood drowning by financially assisting families providing scholarships for ISR Self Rescue swim lessons. Live Like Jake supports ISR Self-Rescue swim lessons to help prevent drowning deaths and near-drowning tragedies among infants and young children. They also have financially assisted families that have been affected by near-drowning hospitalizations and prolonged medical issues. For every drowning death, there are 5 more that are hospitalized and 50% of those children will have brain damage needing around the clock care. 

In just under 5 years the Live Like Jake Foundation has provided more than 1500 scholarships for ISR Self-Rescue swim lessons as well as financially assisted dozens of families with medical and funeral expenses after a drowning accident. According to the Department of Children and Families, the State of Florida actually experienced two months in 2019 with zero drowning deaths which has never happened before. “We believe this is in relation to the attention drowning is getting on social media and parents are reacting by being proactive and enrolling their children in quality swim lessons. We look forward to the day where not one more child loses their precious life to a drowning accident.”,  said Keri Morrison. 

How can you help? The Foundation hosts a variety of community events during the year that you or your family can get involved with. It is a great way to help and support them. In May they had their 5th annual  5k run/walk in Jupiter. Coming up at the end of the month  they will be hosting their first Poker Tournament  at Palm Beach Kennel Club. During the month of July, LLJ hosts “Watermelons for Water Safety.”  Children can host any type of watermelon stand (juice, popsicles, slices etc) and the proceeds go to Live Like Jake. You can sign up online at livelikejake.com/events. Also save the date September 28th for Live Like Jake’s 2nd annual “Be The Light” Gala. For more information about Live Like Jake check out their web page or connect with them on facebook www.facebook.com/livelikejake/.