PHTA Receives 2023 Power of Associations Gold Award for Step Into Swim

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance earned a Power of Associations Gold Award from the American Society of Association Executives for its successful Step Into Swim initiative.

“We are truly honored to receive the ASAE Power of Associations Gold Award for Step Into Swim,” says PHTA president and CEO Sabeena Hickman. “This lifesaving program could not have the reach it has without the support of our amazing member companies, the Step Into Swim Champions Board and the PHTA Board of Directors.”

Step Into Swim is committed to creating more swimmers and raising awareness of the lifesaving skill of learning to swim. Step Into Swim provides grants to learn-to-swim providers across the country — including community organizations, parks and recreation departments, YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs and more — to give children in underserved communities free or reduced-cost access to swim lessons. Grants are funded through donations made by PHTA members.

Since 2012, Step Into Swim has funded swimming lessons for more than 300,000 children in almost all 50 states. In 2022, they raised a record $750,000, which helped 23,500 children participate in swim lessons.

“Drowning is more than a public health issue; it is an epidemic,” says Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, PHTA vice president of partnerships and development, who runs the Step Into Swim initiative. “But we know the cure — swimming lessons.”

To learn more about Step Into Swim and how to get involved, visit stepintoswim.org.