Step Into Swim Announces Partnership with Pentair Pool to Support Drowning Prevention Initiatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2024

Media Contacts:
Amy Willer
Director, Content and Communications
703-838-0083, ext. 121 | awiller@phta.org

Heather Morris
Director, Corporate Communications
612-206-2579 | heather.morris@pentair.com

STEP INTO SWIM ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH PENTAIR POOL TO SUPPORT DROWNING PREVENTION INITIATIVES
Partnership will increase access to swim lessons and water safety resources across North America

(Alexandria, Va.) — Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) dedicated to creating more swimmers through safe swim education, today announced that Pentair Pool, an industry-leading manufacturer of pool and spa solutions, has committed as a Diamond Level Sponsor to support Step Into Swim. The partnership, announced at the U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials in Indianapolis, IN, is part of Pentair Pool’s ongoing commitment to raise awareness of the importance of water safety and learning to swim.

“Pentair Pool has been a longtime advocate of water safety and an incredible partner to PHTA, and we are thrilled to expand that partnership through their generous support of Step Into Swim,” said Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines, PHTA Vice President of Partnerships & Development, who leads the Step Into Swim initiative. “Thanks to Pentair Pool, children around the country will learn to be safer and more confident in and around the water—a lifelong skill that saves lives.”

Together, Pentair Pool and Step Into Swim will help to provide learn-to-swim programming for thousands of children annually. Pentair Pool has long been a champion of water safety, including sponsoring the annual National Water Safety Month initiative for nearly 10 years.

"At Pentair Pool our mission is to help people safely and sustainably enjoy water,” said Greg Claffey, PHTA board member and Pentair Pool president. “This partnership exemplifies our commitment to supporting the communities in which we live and work by helping to safely advance the next generation of swimmers.”

Step Into Swim supporters provide the lifesaving skill of learning to swim and raising awareness for the aquatic industry’s role in improving public health and safety. In 2023, Step Into Swim raised over $1.4 million, which provided grants to more than 100 facilities in 32 states and Canada and funded swim lessons for 23,500 children. The initiative has gifted more than 330,000 swim lessons since 2012. The program 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 https://www.stepintoswim.org/.

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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 over 3,900 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^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 330,000 children with support from community organizations, partners, industry advocates, members, and more. For more information, visit www.stepintoswim.org.

About Pentair Pool:
Pentair Pool is a Pentair plc business. At Pentair, we help the world safely and sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource. From our residential and business solutions to industrial water management and everything in between, Pentair is focused on smart, sustainable water solutions that help our planet and people thrive.

As an industry leader in the pool and spa space, Pentair Pool is driven to help people sustainably enjoy water. Our solutions include industry-leading pumps, automation, lighting, heating, and filtration technology that help our customers enjoy a smarter and more sustainable pool. Customer success is at the heart of our vision for a splash-tastic future bringing family and friends together to build social connections, create lifelong memories, and help promote fitness and enjoyment. For more information, visit www.pentair.com/poolandspa.