Hayward Donates $50,000 to Step Into Swim to Expand Access to Swimming and Aquatic Facilities

Donation expands multi-year partnership between Hayward and Pool & Hot Tub Alliance

Charlotte, NC (February 4, 2026) – Hayward Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HAYW) presented a $50,000 donation to Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) dedicated to creating more swimmers through safe swim education.

Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines, PHTA Vice President of Partnerships and Development, who leads the Step Into Swim initiative, received the donation during a brief ceremony at Hayward’s booth at the 2026 Pool and Spa Show in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“Access to swimming pools and water safety education is essential to protecting families and strengthening communities,” says Kevin Holleran, Hayward’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Hayward’s continued support of Step Into Swim helps more children access life-saving learn-to-swim programs. Investing in water safety means investing in safer futures, and this donation reflects Hayward’s values and our commitment to making a meaningful impact beyond the products we design and manufacture.”

In 2025, Step Into Swim raised over $1.5 million, which funded learn-to-swim programs in 43 U.S. states, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Grand Cayman, and Canada and provided swim lessons to nearly 20,000 children. The initiative has gifted more than 500,000 swim lessons since 2012. The program is funded through partner contributions, which are integral for advancing its life-saving mission. Every dollar donated goes directly to learn-to-swim programming.

“Step Into Swim is honored to have a partner like Hayward, a company that understands the important role swimming plays for individuals as well as communities at large,” says Gaines. “Hayward’s continued support has not only provided access to swim lessons to underserved children across the country—it has also helped Step Into Swim revitalize community pools that were at risk of closure. We are grateful to continue this partnership in 2026.”

Hayward’s donation is comprised of $25,000 in cash and $25,000 in equipment for a Step Into Swim pool. Hayward’s support of Step Into Swim has expanded and strengthened over the last several years, with this year’s donation making Hayward a Platinum-level supporter.

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About Hayward Holdings, Inc.

Hayward Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HAYW) is a leading global designer and manufacturer of pool and outdoor living technology. With a mission to deliver exceptional products, outstanding service and innovative solutions to transform the experience of water, Hayward offers a full line of energy-efficient and sustainable residential and commercial pool equipment including pumps, filters, heaters, cleaners, sanitizers, LED lighting, and water features all digitally connected through Hayward’s intuitive IoT-enabled SmartPad™.

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.

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

Contact for Hayward:
Misty Zelent
Head of Global Communications
mzelent@hayward.com
512-799-0180