NESPA Foundation Continues Commitment to Step Into Swim Drowning Prevention Initiative

$100,000 donation provides access to learn-to-swim programs in the Northeast region

Alexandria, VA (February 12, 2026) – Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) dedicated to creating more swimmers through safe swim education, announced that the Northeast Spa & Pool Association (NESPA) Foundation has continued its partnership as a Diamond Level supporter with a generous $100,000 donation. The NESPA Foundation presented this donation to Step Into Swim during The 2026 Pool & Spa Show powered by NESPA in Atlantic City, NJ, last month, continuing its multi-year commitment to increasing access to lifesaving swim lessons in and around the Northeast.

“Our partnership with Step Into Swim is a testament to what we can achieve when the industry unites for a common cause,” says Jeremy Hasbrouck, President of the NESPA Foundation. “For the past three years, our matching program has successfully quadrupled funding, turning our members’ generosity into swim lessons. The NESPA Foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to drowning prevention, and we are thrilled to continue this journey with Step Into Swim to make water safety accessible to all.”

The NESPA Foundation connects people to aquatic education to promote better health and inspire a lifelong love of the water. As part of its outreach across communities in the Northeast, the Foundation also presented a $35,000 Step Into Swim grant to the Atlantic City Boys & Girls Club following the tradeshow. The grant will support the organization’s learn-to-swim programming this year.

“I am thrilled to announce that the NESPA Foundation has become Step Into Swim’s largest supporter by dollar amount,” says three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines, PHTA Vice President of Partnerships & Development, who leads the Step Into Swim initiative. “They have shown up year after year to rally support from their members and raise awareness of the lifesaving importance of swim lessons and water safety. Step Into Swim could not reach this level of success in the Northeast without the support of NESPA, its Executive Director Dominick Mondi, and the NESPA Foundation Board.”

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 Northeast Spa & Pool Association

The Northeast Spa & Pool Association (NESPA - www.nespapool.org) is the Northeast affiliate of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA). Founded in 1958, the nonprofit association represents the pool and spa industry in the Northeast and serves members through extensive training programs, safety campaigns, networking events, and compliance education. NESPA also produces the largest tradeshow in the Northeast focused exclusively on the pool and spa industry. Find out more details about The Pool & Spa Show at www.ThePoolSpaShow.com.

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

Contact for NESPA:
Kelly McKelvey
Director, Communications & Marketing
kmckelvey@nespapool.org
609-689-9111