We were lucky to catch up with Madison Marchegiano recently and have shared our conversation below.

Madison , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

In March of 2010 when I was 12, Colt, a family friend of mine passed away from a completely preventable accident. He drowned at a relative’s house while they were babysitting him. There was no fence around the pool. Five years after Colt’s death, I felt like I had to do something. I finally got the courage to reach out to his parents asking if I could start a nonprofit in his honor to prevent this tragedy from happening to another family. Deep down, I knew it was going to be too hard for them, which is why I chose to take on this mission. Children should never go before their parents and that’s what made me want to fight even harder. I couldn’t imagine another family going through the unimaginable pain the Catalina’s have endured. I couldn’t even allow that thought to enter my head, but childhood drownings happen every day, and it’s awful. Watching a family lose a child to drowning or any death is beyond heartbreaking. I wake up every single day hoping that I’m making a difference in others’ lives and saving lives in Colt’s name. This is my passion, which I am now an Infant Aquatic Survival®️Specialist. I’ve committed my life to raising awareness for Drowning Prevention & Child Safety. All because of Colt, he is the reason. He is my why. He was just 2 years old. He had his whole life ahead of him and drowning robbed him of his family and friends. I was blessed to know him. He truly was the most special little boy.

Madison , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

“It was a Sunday, the day before spring break ended, and I was doing my homework when my phone rang. It was my friend calling. I answered it and could tell something was wrong, not knowing what she was about to say. I remember hearing the words no one should ever hear, ‘Colt drowned,’ and my heart stopped at that moment. I was 12 years old at the time and didn’t fully understand what was going on or how it happened.

I had so many questions, 12 years later, still do, and so many unanswered. Most of all, I had no idea drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1-4 and there are several layers of protection you can take to prevent drownings. I didn’t know until it happened to Colt. Most parents don’t until it happens to them. That is why the Colt Catalina Foundation exists to change that and save lives.

I will never forget the first day I met Colt. I was in 5th grade, and school had just gotten out for the day. As I was walking to my mom’s car, I saw him sitting in his dada’s arms waiting to pick up his sissys. I remember asking Mackenzie, ‘Is that your baby brother?’ She said, ‘Yes.’ He was the cutest baby. Colt had his John Deere hat on and the biggest smile on his face, and he was so happy. From that day on, I couldn’t wait to get out of school every day to come see him and talk to him. I would always say, ‘Hi, Colt,’ and he would smile at me so big, make little noises, and flap his arms.

When he got older and started walking, he ran across the field in his cowboy hat and boots with his dog, Lucy, to pick up his sissys from school. He was always so excited to see them. Some of my favorite memories of Colt are when I would go to the ballpark, and he would be playing in the sand holding his blue bat. I would go over to my friend’s house, and he was always playing outside.

The very last time I saw Colt, his oldest sister was standing outside holding him. I never thought it would be the last time, but I cherish every memory I had with him, especially all those times he made me smile. He was truly the most adorable little boy I ever had the pleasure of knowing. I have known the Catalina family for 13 years and am very close to Colt’s sisters, Mackenzie and Presley. All of us have gone to the same schools and have lots of mutual friends. Both are very special and mean a lot to me.

Colt Walker Catalina was born on January 18, 2008, to John and Natalie Catalina and was a little brother to Mackenzie and Presley. He was a vibrant, sweet, fun, loving little boy who stole the hearts of everyone lucky enough to know him. Many people who knew Colt loved his heavenly blue eyes, winning smile, and the sound of his infectious laugh.

It was a cold Sunday on March 21, 2010, and Colt was staying at a relative’s house for the day with his older sister Presley (who was 7 at the time). His dad was working, and his mom and oldest sister were away at a softball game. Since it was cold, he and the other kids were watching movies all day. The relative went outside to feed the horses and asked the other adult in charge to watch the kids until they came back. Colt unknowingly followed the relative outside, and when they came back, they found him in the backyard pool. At the time, there was no fence around the pool.

It’s estimated Colt was in the water for 20 minutes before being found. First responders arrived and did CPR along with other measures, and PHI Air Medical Flight (Nurse-Michael Riffle, Flight Paramedic-Brian McCarley, and Pilot-George Egbert III) rushed him to Dell Children’s Hospital, but doctors were unable to revive him. Since it was March and not swimming season, the pool was cold, green, and dirty. Colt’s family believes the dogs knocked him into the pool as he hated the water. John and Natalie were immediately notified of the accident. Colt had just turned 2 years old when his life was cut short from an accident that was so preventable.

The Colt Catalina Foundation raises awareness for Drowning Prevention and Child Safety. My mission is to educate the public on the importance of water safety. I provide Infant Aquatics® survival swim lesson scholarships around the U.S. to those in financial need. Infant Aquatics® is the second-largest survival swim program in the world, teaching infants and young children ages six months through six years the swim-float-swim method, and I am proud to be partnered with them and be their top sponsor.

In addition, I advocate parents take the needed steps to prevent childhood drownings such as supervision, pool fence, window/door alarms, and CPR. Most importantly, I urge parents everywhere to enroll their child(ren) in survival swim lessons with the hope they can avoid becoming yet, another sobering statistic. My mission is to prevent another drowning so no other family has to suffer the unimaginable pain Colt’s family has endured. Drowning is preventable.

‘Our nightmare began when we lost you, leaving a heartache no one can ever heal. We miss you terribly and would give anything to hold you again.’ Love Dada, Momma, Mackenzie & Presley.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

In 2018, the Colt Catalina Foundation officially became a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundations mission is to provide Infant Aquatics®️survival swim lesson scholarships around the U.S. to those in financial need. In order to do that, I rely on the community for donations and do many fundraisers such as t-shirts, bracelets, keychains, rash guards, and so much more. Without their help, the foundation wouldn’t be where it’s at today. Since 2018, I have provided over 100 survival swim lesson scholarships around the U.S. 100 children who are now safer in and around water.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I founded Colt’s Legacy Infant Aquatics® in 2022 in honor of Colt Walker Catalina who tragically drowned at the age of 2 on March 21, 2010. Colt is the reason I decided to become an Infant Aquatic Survival® Specialist. I’m dedicated to teaching children the survival swimming skills needed to enjoy the water safely. I have over 100 hours of in-water training and education in child development and behavior. Combining years of experience and educational background with the physics of swimming, Infant Aquatics® has developed and conduct the safest and most comprehensive baby swimming lessons possible. I take pride in our expertise in working with infants and small children and believe that I’m saving lives, one child at a time. I form special relationships with both my students and their parents. Watching your child discover the joy of swimming is truly the most rewarding experience. I don’t want to see another family go through the pain of losing a child to something so preventable. I do it all for Colt. He is my WHY.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cwcfoundation.wixsite.com/coltcatalina
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coltcatalinafoundation/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NotOneMoreChildDrowns/

Image Credits
Madison Marchegiano Natalie Catalina Brandie Russell