Press Releases

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance recognizes the impact of the Michael Phelps Foundation's IM Program with $20,000 grant to increase access to free, comprehensive water safety curriculum

Step Into Swim announces strategic partnerships to help initiative fund swim lessons for nearly 2,000 children.

Pool & hot tub industry partners help Step Into Swim increase access to water safety education, kick off program year at the Pool and Spa Show.

Today, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) announced a strong close of the 2022 program year for its water safety initiative, Step Into Swim. 

While swimming is an activity to be enjoyed year-round, winterizing your backyard pool may be necessary in colder climates where the temperature drops this time of year. Step Into Swim, the water safety initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), offers best practices and basic maintenance updates for pool owners looking to prep for their outdoor spaces for a winter wonderland season.  

For those who haven’t had access to their own pool this year, the thought of creating a backyard oasis may top the list of to-do’s in prep for next summer. PHTA and Step Into Swim offer homeowners tips for navigating the process and ensuring safety is top of mind.

Premier Pools & Spas partners with PHTA's Step Into Swim program to create safer swimmers in underprivileged communities. 

As many families flock to the water to navigate record-breaking heat, Step Into Swim reminds parents to take proper steps to protect children and be mindful of swimming safety in recognition of National Drowning Prevention Day on Monday, July 25. 

The National Water Safety Month campaign supporters offer important tips and reminders for parents and caregivers about safer water practices. 

In recognition of National Water Safety Month in May, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) and its Step Into Swim initiative, a program committed to safe swim education, reveal results of its national survey about swimming safety concerns and share tips for keeping kids safer in the water. 

Step Into Swim is sharing tips to navigate swim lesson sign ups and plan ahead for the busy summer season.  

The USA Swimming Foundation today announced that it has awarded $898,184 to learn to swim programs across the country through its 2022 grant program – the largest ever dollar amount awarded through its grant program for swim lesson providers. A gift of $200,000 from Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Foundation (PHTF) committed to safer swim education and drowning prevention, along with an additional $80,000 approved by the USA Swimming Foundation Board of Directors, helped bring youth learn to swim grant awards to the largest amount in USA Swimming foundation history.

As part of its goal to bring the joy and substantial benefits of swimming to children across all communities, Master Pools Guild committed $40,000 to the Pool & Hot Tub Foundation (PHTF) initiative Step Into Swim, a national program dedicated to providing safe swim education.

As part of its goal to bring the joy and substantial benefits of swimming to children across all communities, Fluidra committed $100,000 to the Pool & Hot Tub Foundation (PHTF) initiative Step Into Swim, a national program dedicated to providing safe swim education.

Today, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) and its foundation celebrate the donors who made 2021 a record-setting year for Step Into Swim, an initiative committed to safe swim education. The program raised more than $1,000,000 and provided swim lessons to 6,297 children with support from major founding partner Every Child A Swimmer and other industry leaders.

Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines, along with swimming and pool industry leaders from the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA), the Pool & Hot Tub Foundation (PHTF), the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), and Every Child A Swimmer, announced a partnership to help combat drowning and create more swimmers. The one-year agreement between these organizations marks a pivotal collaboration to further promote swimming education and share available resources providing free or reduced-cost swimming lessons in communities across the country. Other partners in this initiative are the Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA), National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA), and the United States Swimming School Association (USSSA).

Today, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) and its foundation announced the expansion of Step Into Swim, an initiative committed to safe swim education, during the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo in Dallas, Texas. PHTA is asking its members and other industry professionals to mobilize in reaching a $500,000 fundraising goal in support of the program. Funds will enable PHTA to share its water safety messaging and resources with families across the U.S., provide professional swim instruction to those who would not otherwise have access, and tap into its robust network to support safety in the industry.

Hayward Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HAYW) (“Hayward”), global designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad portfolio of pool equipment and technology, today announced its platinum-level sponsorship of Step Into Swim™, a 10-year initiative organized by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance to create one million more swimmers. Hayward’s investment helps Step Into Swim advance its mission of promoting safe swimming for children in underprivileged communities by providing swimming lessons and access to pools.

Florida ranks fourth in the nation for unintentional drowning deaths including swimming and boating-related incidents. On Friday, October 8, swimming and pool industry leaders from the Pool & Hot Tub Foundation (PHTF), the Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA) and the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) announced a joint partnership to help combat drowning in the state. The one-year agreement between the three organizations marks a pivotal collaboration to further promote swimming education and share available resources providing free or reduced-cost swimming lessons in Florida communities.

Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), has recently distributed $99,590 in grant funds to 22 facilities across the country, reaching 6,297 children.