Jana and Clifford JohnsonJana and Clifford Johnson

Jana and Clifford Johnson, of Mesa, have been dedicated to water-safety for more than two decades, funding programs that prevent drowning or assist in the retrieval of drowning victims for 24 years.

At St. Joseph's, they funded the original Oliver Otter, You Otter Be Water Wise public service video in the late 1980s, after their son, K.C. Johnson drowned when he was just nine years old in a lake accident.

The family sponsored an updated version of the video in 2009, which features a tribute to K.C. at the end. Community educators use the video in presentations to preschool children at Head Start programs and daycare centers.

Besides funding the Oliver Otter videos, the Johnson family produced a video for older children about water safety in lakes, rivers and canals. They also provide ongoing support to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department Dive Team and Lake Patrol.

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