Florida Swimming Pool Association Strengthens Partnership with Step Into Swim Drowning Prevention Initiative

$50,000 donation matched by Step Into Swim Diamond Level Supporter Heritage Pool Supply Group

Orlando, FL (March 17, 2026) – Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) dedicated to creating more swimmers through safe swim education, is pleased to announce that the Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA) has renewed its partnership as a Platinum Level supporter with a generous $50,000 donation. Heritage Pool Supply Group, a Step Into Swim Diamond Level supporter, matched the donation dollar for dollar at a check presentation during FSPA’s Everything Under the Sun Expo in Orlando, FL, on March 7, 2026.

FSPA has been a leading force in the Florida pool industry for over 50 years. Through its Florida Swims Foundation, the organization helps children across the state gain access to vital swimming lessons and water safety education.

“The Florida Swimming Pool Association is proud to continue our partnership with Step Into Swim to help expand access to swim lessons and water safety education across the state,” says Lyndsey Shock, CEO of the Florida Swimming Pool Association. “In a state where water is such an important part of everyday life, ensuring that children learn how to swim is critical. Through our Florida Swims Foundation and the support of partners like Heritage Pool Supply Group and the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, we are helping give more families the opportunity to gain lifesaving skills and confidence in and around the water.”

Florida has one of the highest drowning rates in the United States. To combat this, FSPA and Step Into Swim have shared in their efforts to increase access to swim lessons and water safety education for many years. In 2025 alone, Step Into Swim supported 26 learn-to-swim programs in Florida, funding swim lessons for over 1,700 children.

“Step Into Swim and FSPA have had a longstanding partnership based on a joint commitment to end the drowning epidemic in the state of Florida,” says three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines, PHTA Vice President of Partnerships & Development, who leads the Step Into Swim initiative. “As a native Floridian, I understand firsthand that being in and around water is a major part of day-to-day life here. By increasing access to swim lessons—especially in underserved communities that are at highest risk—we are making the next generation of Floridians safer, more educated, and more confident. Step Into Swim is incredibly grateful to FSPA for this impactful donation, and to Heritage Pool Supply Group for making it reach twice as far.”

Heritage Pool Supply Group and its Heritage Cares Foundation, which has been supporting Step Into Swim annually for the past five years and already committed $100,000 to the initiative in January 2026, matched FSPA’s $50,000 donation with an additional $50,000 to fund swim lessons across the state. The PHTA Board of Directors then matched this $100,000 donation for a total impact of $200,000 towards water safety education in Florida.

“I’m proud of Heritage Cares’ partnership with Step Into Swim, which truly reflects our commitment to giving back to the pool and spa industry,” says Scott Frost, President of Heritage Pool Supply. “Supporting this initiative goes beyond promoting safety—it’s about education and creating a meaningful impact in communities across Florida. By matching FSPA’s generous donation, we’re able to reach more children and families, expanding access to swim lessons and helping empower communities statewide.”

Step Into Swim and its supporters provide the lifesaving skill of learning to swim and raise awareness of the pool and hot tub industry’s role in improving public health and safety. In 2025, Step Into Swim raised over $1.5 million, which provided grants across 43 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Grand Cayman, and Canada and funded swim lessons for nearly 20,000 children. The initiative has gifted more than 500,000 swim lessons since 2012. Step Into Swim is funded through partner contributions, which are integral for advancing the mission. Every dollar donated goes directly to learn-to-swim programming. To learn more, visit www.stepintoswim.com.

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About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance and Step Into Swim

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with 4,000 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $62B pool, hot tub, and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth initiatives to increase our members' professionalism, knowledge, and profitability. Additionally, PHTA promotes the use of pools by expanding swimming, water safety, and related research and outreach activities aimed at introducing more people to swimming, making swimming environments safer, and keeping pools open to serve communities. For more information, visit www.phta.org.

Step Into Swim™ is an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance and its foundation committed to safe swim education and drowning prevention. By investing in the next generation of swimmers through learn-to-swim programming, the Step Into Swim initiative instills confidence, empowers long-term participation in water activities, touts the positive benefits of water play, and advocates for safe practices. Since its inception in 2012, Step Into Swim has played a role in reducing drowning fatalities and has gifted swim lessons to more than 500,000 children with support from community organizations, partners, industry advocates, members, and more. For more information, visit www.stepintoswim.org.

About the Florida Swimming Pool Association

The Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA) is a nonprofit trade association representing Florida’s swimming pool, spa, and hot tub industry. For more than 50 years, FSPA has served as a trusted resource for pool builders, service professionals, manufacturers, and suppliers while promoting professionalism, education, and safety across the industry. Through advocacy, training, and consumer outreach, FSPA works to protect the interests of its members and advances best practices in pool and spa construction, maintenance, and design. FSPA also supports drowning prevention and water safety initiatives through its charitable arm, the Florida Swims Foundation, which provides funding for swim lessons and water safety education programs throughout the state.

About Heritage Pool Supply Group

Heritage Pool Supply Group has grown to become one of the largest and fastest growing pool supply distributors in the United States. Since its inception in 2021, Heritage has established a differentiated growth strategy and entrepreneurial culture that is focused on serving customers, partnering with suppliers, and attracting the industry’s best talent. Heritage currently operates under a family of distinct local brands encompassing more than 160 locations across 36 states. Heritage Pool Supply Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of SRS Distribution Inc., one of the largest and fastest-growing wholesale distributors in the United States.

 

Contact for PHTA/Step Into Swim:
Amy Willer
Senior Director, Content & Communications
awiller@phta.org
703-838-0083, ext. 121

Contact for FSPA:
Krista Julian
Marketing Manager
krista@fspa.com
941-952-9293

Contact for Heritage Pool Supply Group:
Missy Morgan
Vice President, Marketing
missy.morgan@srsdistribution.com
214-491-4149