Honoring Juliette Through Water Safety

The YMCA of Honolulu is honored to steward the Juliette Ortega Memorial Endowed Fund, a lasting gift created by Andy and Debbie Howard, who reside in both Marietta, Georgia, and Honolulu, Hawai'i, in memory of their beloved great-niece, Juliette.

The fund supports water safety and swim instruction at the Nuʻuanu YMCA, helping children develop the skills and confidence they need to be safe in and around the water. Through programs modeled after the YMCA's Safety Around Water initiative, keiki learn important life-saving skills while building comfort and confidence in the pool.

For the Howard family, supporting water safety is a deeply meaningful way to honor Juliette's memory.

"Teaching water safety and skills to prevent drowning is something that is especially close to our hearts," they shared. "Our precious great-niece, Juliette, drowned in the family pool at her third birthday party. This is a devastation that is unfathomable and has no end, and one that we hope no other family ever has to endure."

Their gift reflects a simple but powerful hope: that more children will have the opportunity to learn essential water safety skills and that more families will benefit from the peace of mind that comes with those lessons.

"We are excited to be able to help you in your endeavor to teach water skills and drowning prevention to a great number of children in our area," Andy and Debbie shared. "We know that this outreach program will be beneficial and impactful to many families."

Through the Juliette Ortega Memorial Endowed Fund, Juliette's memory will continue to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families for generations to come. The YMCA is deeply grateful for the Howard family's generosity and their commitment to helping create safer communities through water safety education.