Key People

June 01, 2008, Kathy Collingsworth and her family suffered a tremendous loss from a drowning of their 2 1/2-year-old son, Joshua. Joshua was out of their sight for mere minutes and passed away three days later. With the help from family, friends and faith, they were determined to not
let this happen to another family.  In doing so, Kathy and her husband turned their tragedy into advocacy by creating JCMF (Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation)-Josh the Otter and Float 4 Life in 2008.  The Float 4 Life aquatics facility and Josh the Otter offices are located on 16th and Yankee Hill and serves Lincoln and other surrounding communities, by educating children and adults about water safety via literacy and providing the physical side with the back float lessons. Since the creation of “Josh the Otter”, hundreds of thousands of children have been introduced to Josh the Otter in all 50 United States, Canada, Jamaica, Bahamas, Japan, Brazil,
Australia and even Pakistan. Over 6000,000 copies of the book have been distributed. There are 88 mascot suits and hundreds of hand puppets of Josh the Otter being utilized. The Float 4 Life program has trained over 10,000 children, and trained instructors throughout the Untied States.
 

Kathy is the Co-Founder/Director of the JCMF Children’s Charities-Josh the Otter (Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation) and Float 4 Life National Training Center. Kathy and her husband have worked extensively on developing a program to keep children safe in and around water with the Josh the Otter book and the lifesaving drowning prevention materials and campaigns, not only in Nebraska but also around the world.

She is currently Past President of Lincoln Giving Spirits Evening Rotary Club that her and husband Blake chartered and started July 2018. With the help of Lincoln Giving Spirit’s and the JCMF foundation, Life Jacket Loaner Stations are currently saving lives by providing life jackets to those in need at local lakes in Nebraska.  Kathy was a previous Rotarian of Lincolns Club 14 downtown and is an honoree member of
Rotary clubs in Florida.

Serving on the Junior Achievement board for 13 years she won the honored and highest award with the Bronze Award for her dedication to her community and work with the organization. She serves on the Nebraska Children’s Home Society board emeritus and continues to volunteer
actively in her community. 

 

Kathy retired from over 30 years of working as a Nail Technician and educator with the first School established for Nail Technicians in Lincoln. Kathy was the owner of Unique By Design and Interior Decorator but she is now dedicated her life to her passion of water safety, and raising her wonderful son Connor with her husband Blake.

 

Kathy believes that together we a make a difference every day by being kind to one another. You will never know when you’ll need a hand up, giving will always be more important than getting.  Together We Will Save Lives is Kathy’s motto.