news & resources

Media Articles

NBC New York: Swimmer with Olympic Ties Gives Free Lessons to Kids in Brooklyn
July 22, 2024

NBC New York: Swimmer with Olympic Ties Gives Free Lessons to Kids in Brooklyn

Trident Swim Foundation received a grant from Step Into Swim and USA Swimming Foundation, which is helping kids in Brooklyn learn to swim this summer. 

Read More


TODAY Show: Drowning Deaths Are Rising. Is It Ever OK to Let Kids Swim Unsupervised?
May 17, 2024

TODAY Show: Drowning Deaths Are Rising. Is It Ever OK to Let Kids Swim Unsupervised?

Rowdy Gaines discusses National Water Safety Month and the importance of parental supervision to prevent childhood drowning.

Read More


TODAY Show: Olympic Gold Medalists Share Water Safety Tips, Swim Education
May 9, 2024

TODAY Show: Olympic Gold Medalists Share Water Safety Tips, Swim Education

Olympic gold medalists Rowdy Gaines and Maya Dirado join TODAY for National Water Safety Month to talk about making swim lessons more accessible and share tips to stay safe in and around water.

Read More


ABC 7 New York: Connecticut officials issue water safety warning ahead of beach and pool season
May 6, 2024

ABC 7 New York: Connecticut officials issue water safety warning ahead of beach and pool season

Sen. Richard Blumenthal was joined by three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines, Yale University swimming champion Ali Truwit, who lost her leg in a shark attack, and Stew and Kim Leonard who lost their child in a drowning accident, to discuss water safety.

Read More


The Hour: Stew Leonard's family and Olympian team up to provide 40,000 free swim lessons in CT, NY and NJ
May 6, 2024

The Hour: Stew Leonard's family and Olympian team up to provide 40,000 free swim lessons in CT, NY and NJ

Stew and Kim Leonard, along with Olympic gold medalist swimmer Rowdy Gaines' organization Step Into Swim, are providing $400,000 worth of grants to local organizations to provide 40,000 free swim lessons across Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.

Read More


Swim Angelfish
April 22, 2024

Swim Angelfish

Swim Angelfish is thrilled to announce their organization has been selected as a grant recipient of the Stew Leonard III Foundation and Step Into Swim Program.

Read More


Sequim Gazette: Grant Helps Sequim YMCA Host Free Youth Swim Lessons
November 29, 2023

Sequim Gazette: Grant Helps Sequim YMCA Host Free Youth Swim Lessons

Sequim YMCA received a grant from the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance’s Step Into Swim initiative.

Read More


Recreation Management: Step Into Swim Announces Partnership with Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation
October 24, 2023

Recreation Management: Step Into Swim Announces Partnership with Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation

The Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation committed $200,000 to Step Into Swim to increase access to swim education.

Read More


U.S. News & World Report: Backyard Pool Ideas on a Budget
August 25, 2023

U.S. News & World Report: Backyard Pool Ideas on a Budget

Interested in installing a backyard pool? Learn from industry experts on how to achieve your backyard oasis on a budget. 

Read More


White Lake Beacon: Montague Teacher Recognized for Water Safety Awareness Efforts
August 17, 2023

White Lake Beacon: Montague Teacher Recognized for Water Safety Awareness Efforts

A Montague, MI public school teacher was recognized for her efforts to increase water safety awareness, funded by a grant from the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance’s Step Into Swim initiative.

Read More


The U.S. Sun: Expert Issues Stark Warning to Parents Over Children's Arm Bands in the Pool
July 9, 2023

The U.S. Sun: Expert Issues Stark Warning to Parents Over Children's Arm Bands in the Pool

Swim experts, like Step Into Swim's own Rowdy Gaines, debunk swim safety myths.

Read More


FOX 35: Providing Kids Access to Swim Lessons
June 16, 2023

FOX 35: Providing Kids Access to Swim Lessons

A $200,000 grant from Step Into Swim will allow the Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center to help underserved communities in Florida access swim lessons.

Read More


ABC 7: Drowning Prevention in Arkansas, Professionals Weigh In
June 12, 2023

ABC 7: Drowning Prevention in Arkansas, Professionals Weigh In

Rowdy Gaines spoke to ABC 7 about swim safety tips for the summer.

Read More


Washington Post: To Decrease Drowning, We Must Create More Swimmers
June 4, 2023

Washington Post: To Decrease Drowning, We Must Create More Swimmers

Rowdy Gaines addressed water safety and swimming equity in a letter penned to the Washington Post.

Read More


The Hour: Stew and Kim Leonard Open Norwalk Pool in Honor of Their Toddler Son Who Died in Drowning Accident
June 2, 2023

The Hour: Stew and Kim Leonard Open Norwalk Pool in Honor of Their Toddler Son Who Died in Drowning Accident

Rowdy Gaines joined the Leonards during the grand opening of their community pool to promote water safety.

Read More


Tribune-Star: (Terre) Haute Mommy - Never Take Your Eyes Off Them
May 30, 2023

Tribune-Star: (Terre) Haute Mommy - Never Take Your Eyes Off Them

Columnist Katie Shane talks about summer swimming and references top swim tips, including advice from Rowdy Gaines.

Read More


Yahoo News: Should NJ Schools be Required to Teach Swim Safety?
May 29, 2023

Yahoo News: Should NJ Schools be Required to Teach Swim Safety?

Rowdy Gaines joined New Jersey representatives and organizations, including the Northeast Spa and Pool Association, about a proposed bill advocating for school districts to provide water safety education.

Read More


Atlanta News First: Grant Helps 80 Underserved Atlanta Kids Take Swim Lessons
May 18, 2023

Atlanta News First: Grant Helps 80 Underserved Atlanta Kids Take Swim Lessons

Northwest Family YMCA received a grant from Step Into Swim, which will help 80 local kids learn to swim this summer. 

Read More


Cut Bank Pioneer Press: Grant Funding Provides for Swimming Lessons in Shelby
May 17, 2023

Cut Bank Pioneer Press: Grant Funding Provides for Swimming Lessons in Shelby

The City of Shelby (MT) received a grant from Step Into Swim, which will help local kids learn to swim this summer. 

Read More


AccuWeather: Water Safety Tips with Rowdy Gaines, Olympic Swimmer
May 16, 2023

AccuWeather: Water Safety Tips with Rowdy Gaines, Olympic Swimmer

Olympic swimmer Rowdy Gaines joins AccuWeather's 'Everything Under the Sun' podcast to talk about National Water Safety Month and swim safety best practices for parents to keep in mind this summer.

Read More


Connect with us