Princess Charlene of Monaco made quite the splash in California.The 38-year-old jumped into the pool on Wednesday, May 11 for the US launch of hercharitable organization, The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.
The former Olympic swimmer was back in her elementteaching children how to swim and practicing water safety at the AnnenbergCommunity Beach House in Santa Monica.
Photo: Getty Images for Palais Princier de Monaco
Charlene was photographed instructing young kids onhow to float on their backs, in addition to showing them how to use a life preserver. US Olympic swimmer Dara Torres, US Olympic diver Greg Louganis and US champion surfer Nic Lamb also joined the Monaco royal for the safety education lesson that involved more than 40children, ages 8-13, from the Boys & Girls Clubs Saint Anne School branch.
PRINCESS CHARLENE'S BEST STYLE MOMENTS
The Embassy of Monaco announced onMay 3 that Prince Albert’s wife would launch the American chapter of herfoundation “to highlight learning-to-swim and water safety programs for youth.”
Photo: Getty Images for Palais Princier de Monaco
Charlene, who is a mother to one-year-old twins — Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques — set up her foundation back in2012 after the World Health Organization estimated that drowningclaimed the lives of 372,000 people worldwide and killed morechildren than tuberculosis or measles.
To fight the statistics, the royal's organization implemented an international three-tiered mission focusing onlearning-to-swim, water safety along with sport and education programs toeducate children and young people.
Photo: Getty Images for Palais Princier de Monaco
PRINCESS CHARLENE'S TWINS' CUTEST MOMENTS
In a statement Charlene said, "Aroundthe globe, thousands of innocent lives are tragically lost to drowning everyyear. I am here to share with you how many lives we are saving - and how manymore we can save, simply by training the trainers and by focusing on oneperson, one family, and one community at a time.”
She continued, “Having spent yearsteaching underprivileged children to acquire basic water safety techniquesaround aquatic environments, I can only say that simple ideas are often themost effective.”
Photo: Getty Images for Palais Princier de Monaco
Santa Monica's Mayor Tony Vazquez presented the stylish royal with a Mayoral Proclamation on Wednesday to mark the occasion. On Thursday, the prestigious BlueRibbon of The Music Center in Los Angeles, will honor Charlene with a speciallunch and present her with a commemorative award in appreciation for her workin drowning prevention.