Master Pools Guild Commits $40,000 to Step Into Swim

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2022

Media Contact:
Janay Rickwalder, CAE
Vice President, Communications
703-357-3918 | jrickwalder@phta.org

Master Pools Guild Commits $40,000 to Step Into Swim

Commitment helps extend a safe and healthy pool experience to underserved communities through free access to swimming lessons

(Alexandria, Va.) - As part of its goal to bring the joy and substantial benefits of swimming to children across all communities, Master Pools Guild committed $40,000 to the Pool & Hot Tub Foundation (PHTF) initiative Step Into Swim, a national program dedicated to providing safe swim education.

Through the Step Into Swim initiative, MPG is able to share its passion for aquatic recreation and make swimming lessons accessible to all children. “We are very excited to be partnering in the Step Into Swim Program with PHTF. Creating more swimmers and providing safe swim education are goals we share and believe must be promoted by all our industry.  With Rowdy’s enthusiasm and leadership, we are confident he will bring this year’s program to a very strong finish, and we are proud to be part of the team,” said MPG Executive Director Teri Wiltshire.

“Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4,” said Rowdy Gaines, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Vice President of Partnerships and Development at PHTA. “Through MPG’s generous contribution we are able to make stronger strides to combat childhood drowning—with focus in under-resourced communities—so that we can keep children safer in the water.”

“I am in awe of how far Step Into Swim has come thanks to the leadership of key partners like MPG,” said PHTA President and CEO Sabeena Hickman. “In 2021, Step Into Swim raised over $500,000 dollars from the pool and hot tub industry, which provided grants to 22 across the country funding 6,297 swimming lessons for children, and we are on pace to exceed that in 2022.  We are now accepting grant applications from aquatic facilities for 2022, so please encourage your communities to apply before March 31.”

Donors can support Step Into Swim through tiered funding levels, including the Build A Pool, Save A Life Sponsorship where companies can pledge funds based on the number of pools built or maintenance contracts signed each year. 100 percent of funds go directly to Step Into Swim programming. Visit www.StepIntoSwim.org to see a full list of supporters and to learn more about how to get involved.

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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 nearly 3,500 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $36.5B pool, hot tub, and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge, and profitability. Additionally, PHTA facilitates the expansion of 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^TM 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 285,000 children with support from community organizations, partners, industry advocates, members and more. For more information, visit www.stepintoswim.org.

About Master Pools Guild

The Master Pools Guild is an exclusive network of over 100 elite custom pool builders from across the globe, all carefully chosen based on their skills, reputation and proven ability in swimming pool design and construction. Established in 1962, the MPG name has now become the hallmark of quality for residential and commercial clients looking to enhance the outdoor living potential of their property. For more information, visit www.masterpoolsguild.com.