PHTA celebrating record swim campaign donations
Andy Slater- 3 hours ago
Record donations for a swim education campaign to fund thousands of lessons and help prevent drowning are being celebrated by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance.
BioLab, Solenis, Periodic Products, and Teserra Outdoors are donating a total of $85,000 to help the Step Into Swim campaign gift grants to learn-to-swim providers and fund swim lessons for over 1,000 children while lowering the drowning rate. These donations helped to build Step Into Swim’s most successful quarter of fundraising ever, with total donations exceeding $800,000 in the first three months of this year.
This support will allow Step Into Swim to provide funding to more learn-to-swim programs across the country as they prepare for the peak summer swim season.
“I am overwhelmed by the incredible support of these leading companies within the pool, spa, and hot tub industry,” said Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines, who is Vice President of Partnerships & Development at PHTA and leads the Step Into Swim initiative.
“Together, we are spreading the message that our industry is united in the fight against drowning. Thanks to the generosity of BioLab, Solenis, Periodic Products, and Teserra Outdoors, we will be able to provide the gift of lifesaving swim lessons to more communities than ever before.”
PHTA has reported that drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4, though learning to swim from a qualified instructor reduces the risk of drowning by 88 per cent among this age group. Step Into Swim is taking an active role to reduce drowning by reaching as many families as possible through safe swimming education.
In addition to the Step Into Swim Gold Level sponsorship donation, pictured, pool and hot tub product specialist BioLab has developed a company-wide initiative to support the campaign through a charity T-shirt sale for employees, dealers, and consumers, with 100 per cent of proceeds going to Step Into Swim throughout 2025.
“At BioLab, we believe that every person deserves the opportunity to learn how to swim. It’s important that young children, children with special needs, and impoverished kids acquire this lifesaving skill that promotes safety and confidence in the water,” divulged Vice President of Pro Sales at BioLab and PHTA Board Member Ted Lawrence.
“That’s why we are proud to support PHTA’s Step Into Swim program by not only donating but supporting the initiative by selling T-shirts and rallying our dedicated BioGuard Dealers to join the cause. Together, we are making a meaningful impact by helping more children gain access to swim education and ensuring a safer future for all.”
Leading global provider of water treatment solutions for residential and commercial pools and spas and PHTA Strategic Partner Solenis will help Step Into Swim provide learn-to-swim programming for 700 children through its Gold Level sponsorship.
“We are proud to be a small part in Step Into Swim’s mission to create more swimmers,” said Senior Director of Sales North America at Solenis Brian Durant. “Drowning prevention is crucial as it saves lives and promotes water safety, especially among children. By supporting Step Into Swim, Solenis is not only contributing to a vital cause but also aligning with our commitment to water safety and education.”
Periodic Products is committed to advancing a cleaner, safer, and more energy-efficient global environment through the application of responsible science and breakthrough chemical technologies. After several years as a Gold Level sponsor, the company is proud to be the first to donate to the newly-created Rowdy Gaines Water Safety Champion Endowment Fund, which will establish long-term, sustainable support of Step Into Swim for many years to come.
“This sponsorship at the Gold Level for three consecutive years demonstrates Periodic Products’ commitment to the mission of the Step Into Swim initiative of eliminating childhood drownings,” revealed President and CEO of Periodic Products and Immediate Past Chairman of the PHTA Board of Directors Joseph Laurino, Ph.D..
“This year, our contribution also represents the first corporate donation, matched by the PHTA Board of Directors, to the Rowdy Gaines Water Safety Champion Endowment Fund, the endowment created last year by the PHTA Board of Directors to support the Step Into Swim mission in perpetuity.”
Teserra Outdoors has designed and built breathtaking outdoor retreats in Southern California for over four decades. Now, through its Silver Level sponsorship, Teserra Outdoors will help Step Into Swim provide learn-to-swim programming for 200 children.
“Everyone at Teserra is excited to be supporting Step Into Swim,” revealed President of Teserra and PHTA Board Member Paul Yates.
“Hearing the statistics about child death rates from drowning was staggering to myself and my business partners. Partnering with Step Into Swim will be a great opportunity for Teserra to be able to give back to our community and help save lives.”
