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Arizona family of 8 says peace of mind from free pool fence is priceless

By
Published  February 27, 2025 9:46pm MST
Phoenix
FOX 10 Phoenix

Family of 8 receives free pool fence

The Child Crisis Arizona's program that awards a free pool fence to an Arizona family provides a lucky family of eight with a gift that gives them priceless peace of mind.

The Brief

    • The Gunnison family won a free pool fence through the Child Crisis Arizona's pool fence safety program.
    • Child Crisis of Arizona says drowning is a leading cause of death for young children in Arizona.
    • The Gunnison family says the fence provides a priceless amount of peace of mind, especially after attending a funeral of a drowning victim for one of their family friends.

PHOENIX - As it gets hotter in the Valley, parents have a chance to win a pool fence installed at their home for free. 

A family of eight is thankful to receive a free fence through Child Crisis Arizona's pool fence safety program, especially because their youngest kids are 2-year-old twins. 

In 2020, the Gunnison family moved into a home with a dive pool. 

Getting a fence was always top of mind, but what they didn't know was how expensive a pool fence was going to cost them. 

Jayne Gunnison took a shot in the dark and applied for a free pool fence. The shot paid off.

 "For starters, I love the new fence," she told FOX 10.

Why you should care:

As a mother of six, Jayne Gunnison can breathe a sigh of relief knowing her kids will be safe playing in their backyard.

"We were able to provide this free pool fence to help keep the kids in the home safe. As we know, drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children under the age of four in Arizona," said Caitlin Sageng of Child Crisis Arizona.

Watch FOX 10 Phoenix live:

What we know:

The Gunnison family received this free pool fence through Child Crisis Arizona's 4th annual pool safety program, a partnership the nonprofit has with SRP, State Farm, and the 493 Firefighter Foundation.

"So drowning is silent. It's quiet. It's not a big dramatic event. So it can happen very quickly," said Sageng.

"We talk about putting layers of protection up and having a proper barrier is one of the best protections and preventing accidental drownings."

The backstory:

Since purchasing her home in 2020, she's tried to look for affordable swim lessons for her kids. 

Getting a fence was her next mission, but with twins on the way, she couldn't afford either. 

Then, in 2022, Jayne and her partner had to attend a funeral for a friend's child who accidentally drowned in a pool.

"That is the most devastating funeral you can attend, is to see a child in a small coffin," said Gunnison.

After months of research and learning about Child Crisis Arizona, Jayne applied for the free fence the minute applications opened for a free pool fence and luckily for her, the dedication paid off.

"Peace of mind. Peace of mind is, it's priceless. It is truly priceless. I can open my back door and I can let my kids play," she said.

The Source

  • Information for this story was provided by Child Crisis Arizona and an interview with the Gunnison family.

PhoenixNewsCrime and Public Safety