Swim. Play. Soar!
The Marian Coco Foundation champions safe swimming and outdoor play for children and their families. Because when our kids shine, our community thrives.
Swim. Play. Soar!
The Marian Coco Foundation champions safe swimming and outdoor play for children and their families. Because when our kids shine, our community thrives.
Outdoor play isn’t just fun. It’s foundational.
Children who have access to outdoor play are healthier, happier, and better equipped to learn and grow across all areas of life.
Physical
Children who play outdoors get 27% more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity than those who don’t, building stronger muscles, better coordination, and the foundation for a lifetime of healthy habits.
Social
Where kids play shapes how they play together. Green spaces bring out cooperation, language, and creativity, while playgrounds tend to spark healthy competition.
Emotional
Active outdoor play has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in children. Just 20 minutes of free play in a green space can improve focus and emotional regulation.
Cognitive
Children exposed to green spaces from an early age show stronger brain development, better self-regulation, and cognitive benefits that compound over time.
Creative
Children who play freely in open spaces develop stronger problem-solving skills, richer creative thinking, and a greater sense of confidence in their own ideas.
Sources: UNICEF, UNICEF, NIH, NIH, Educational Psychology Review
Learning to swim can change a child’s life. It can save their life, too.
Swimming is more than a summer activity—it's a lifesaving skill, with ripple effects that extend far beyond the pool.
Safety
Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1–4, and the second leading cause of unintentional injury or death for children ages 5–14. Swim lessons, CPR training, and knowing about the 5 layers of protection can help prevent tragedy.
Security
88% of child drownings happen with an adult present, not due to neglect, but from how fast it happens. Drowning is silent and can happen in as little as 30 seconds. Raised awareness results in more happy kids and more peace of mind for the grown-ups that love them.
Strength
A landmark study found that children who swim regularly are up to 15 months ahead of their peers in cognitive development and seven months ahead on motor skill developmental milestones, on average.
Still, access to play isn’t equal.
Too many shared play spaces are aging, underfunded, and at worst, unsafe. Plus, children from lower-income, Black, and Brown communities are less likely to have access to life-saving swim lessons and resources.
By building better play spaces, increasing access, and raising awareness, we invest in the future of all of our kids and the long-term health of our community.
Marian Coco
Marian Coco Reilly ("Mare") lived a life of joy and wonder. She experienced (and narrated!) simple pleasures with unending enthusiasm. Singing, dancing, reading, playing outside - these were all magical experiences for Mare. Her smile. Her eyes. Her laugh. Her hugs. Every part of Mare brought love and happiness to those around her. She was exceptional.
On July 5, 2025, shortly before her second birthday, Mare died in a drowning accident. She was at a family pool with multiple adults and other children. Mare was familiar with the water and wearing a flotation device. It happened during a transition moment, while everyone was out of the pool and preparing to exit the pool yard. Mare removed her flotation device herself before either falling or getting back into the water. It happened quickly and quietly. The circumstances of her death are, sadly, too common.
The Marian Coco Foundation honors the way Mare lived by building joy and wonder through outdoor play, while recognizing the circumstances of her death by promoting and increasing access to safe swim initiatives.
Thank you for your support. And as Mare would say, "I looooooooove you!"
We promote safe swim and outdoor play in three key ways:
Build
We fund physical improvements to outdoor play spaces. Shade structures, splash pads, playground renovations—it’s all fair game.
Educate
We support safe swim practices and play habits with free resources, guides, and community programming that help kids stay healthy and active outdoors.
Empower
Through strategic partnerships, we help all children in Buffalo access fun and foundational outdoor experiences.
We play well with others.
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A big thank you to our community partners for helping create something lasting for our kids.


Are you also interested in teaming up? We’d love to hear from you. Let us know at info@mariancoco.org.
More materials and data to dig into.
Every contribution helps create a bigger, safer world for a Buffalo kid.
Every contribution helps create a bigger, safer world for a Buffalo kid.
Get Involved
Ground Breaker
Inviting friends of Marian to come play outside. Sign up to receive information about future events and initiatives, including our Community Kick Off Event on Sunday, September 13th, to help us start something special for our kids and our city.
Donate Funds
Good Neighbor
Your financial gift directly funds outdoor play spaces and safe swim programs throughout Buffalo.
Major Gift
Game Changer
Olly olly oxen free! You like to think big about how to give, whether with a custom gift, in-kind support, or a tailored initiative. We’re here for that.
Want to be the first to hear about foundation news, events, and great opportunities to get outside?
Buffalo’s future is as bright as its kids.
Let’s give them great childhoods and watch them soar.
Marian Coco Foundation
140 Pearl Street Suite 100
Buffalo, NY 14202
Marian Coco Foundation, Inc. (41-5304923) is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Branding by Lillian Selby & Website by FatLip
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