A Letter from Rowdy Gaines on Giving Tuesday

Dear Friends,

As an Olympic swimmer and water safety advocate, I am always devastated to hear stories about childhood drownings. What makes these stories exceptionably painful for me is the fact that drowning is preventable. Swim lessons have the power to save lives! In the U.S., drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1 – 4. However, taking swim lessons from a qualified instructor reduces the risk of drowning by 88%.

The unfortunate reality behind drowning is why so many people have stepped up to support the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance’s (PHTA) philanthropic initiative, Step Into Swim. Leading this program is one of the greatest honors of my life as we answer the urgent call to fund swim lessons for children in need.

Step Into Swim had a record-breaking year in 2023, making a positive impact in communities across the country and spreading our message about the life-saving importance of swim safety and education. Thanks to our generous donors, we have granted $1 million to learn-to-swim programs in 35 states and Canada, providing 23,500 children in need with swim lessons. Not to mention, we also hosted our second segment on the TODAY Show during National Water Safety Month with Olympians Missy Franklin and Cullen Jones to debunk common swim safety myths and share crucial safety information with American families. We have accomplished so much, and yet, there is still a lot more work to do!

This season of giving, I ask you to please consider donating to Step Into Swim to join in our mission of creating more swimmers. Just $50 can give a child in need the vital swim education they need to not only reduce their risk of drowning, but to thrive in the water. 100% of your donation will go directly to a learn-to-swim program, allowing them to provide free or reduced cost swim lessons to children whose families may otherwise be unable to afford them. Additionally, PHTA’s Board of Directors has generously matched every dollar we’ve raised this year – multiplying the impact of your donation!

To learn more and make a donation, visit https://www.stepintoswim.org/get-involved/donate/ or contact me at rgaines@PHTA.org.

Together, we can bring an end to childhood drowning and instill confidence in our youngest swimmers!

Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season,

Rowdy