Rowdy Gaines, a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Pool and Hot Tub Alliance’s (PHTA) Step Into Swim Spokesperson, presented Paragon Pools/Float Like A Duck and City of Las Vegas a ceremonial Step Into Swim Grant Check for $8,000 on Tuesday, November 14 th at the Municipal Indoor Pool.
Paragon Pools, a PHTA-member, and its award winning water safety initiative Float Like Duck, petitions each year for the grant to support its mission to “Educate the public on safety while celebrating water sports’ joys.” The Paragon Pools Team then searches out qualified aquatic programs in the community to provide the free swimming lessons.
Joseph M. Vassallo is the president of Paragon Pools and founder of Float Like A Duck. He said, “The City of Las Vegas was a Water Safety Partner of Float Like A Duck since 2003.” “And during Float Like A Duck’s 20th Anniversary, we wanted them to reciprocate this long-term support by presenting the grant for no-cost swim classes to disadvantaged youths within the Las Vegas Community.”
The grant was accepted by the following representatives of Paragon Pools/Float like a Duck: Joseph M Vassallo, VP Joey Vassallo, Ward 3 Councilwoman Olivia Diaz, Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs – Recreation Supervisor Savonta Mannor, and Lifeguard/WSI Gabriel Mendoza.
The first summer swimming season in 2023 saw a $3,000 grant for free lessons. Over 100 children were served. Gaines, after reviewing the report for 2023, was so impressed by the program’s success that he committed a $5,000 Step Into Swim Grant for the season of 2024. The $8,000.00 grant check is the total of the $3,000 grant for 2023 and the $5,000 grant for 2024.
Gaines was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame twice. He is known as “The Voice of Swimming”, for his commentary of Olympic swimming events. He stressed the importance of teaching kids to swim. He noted that formal swimming lessons reduce the drowning risk by 90%. Gaines brought along one of his Gold Medals won at the 1984 LA Olympic Games for attendees to see up close.
The Vassallo family credits the efforts of Councilwoman Victoria Seaman from Ward 2 and Councilwoman Olivia Diaz from Ward 3 for their strategic role in the coordination of the program with City Park and Rec Aquatic division. Seaman and Diaz collaborated with Recreation supervisor Savonta Manor to identify the greatest needs in the community. This included the Municipal Pool and Baker Pool, both located in Diaz Ward 3.
Ward 2 Councilwoman Victoria Seaman stated that “safety is our number one priority in the city of Las Vegas, and during the hot months of summer pool safety is a topic we want everyone to hear about loudly,” “I would like to thank Paragon Pools/Float Like A Duck for their generous donation that will go towards providing free swim lessons to city residents.”
Olivia Diaz, Ward 3 Councilwoman, said, “There’s nothing better than a cool dip in the pool on a hot day in Las Vegas, but we also want to make sure that our family, friends and children are safe while they enjoy themselves.” We are able, thanks to community partners such as Paragon Pools/Float Like a Duck, to offer free swim lessons to everyone and make summer swimming safer.
Vassallo says that the Step Into Swim Grant is important for our community. Southern Nevada is well-known for its numerous aquatic environments, and many children don’t have regular access to them. The grant will provide additional financial assistance to allow more families to take advantage of the City’s swim programs and learn to swim.
Featured Image: Rowdy Gaines, 3x Olympic Gold Medalist and spokesperson for Step Into Swimming, presents the 2023-2024 PHTA Grant Check to Gabriel Mendoza Lifeguard/WSI. The $8,000.00 ceremonial check, representing a combined grant of $3,000 for 2023 and $5,000 for 2024 was presented to the Municipal Pool in Nov 2023.
About Float like a Duck 
This award-winning initiative was created in 2003 by Paragon Pools Las Vegas. Its mission is to “Educate the public about the importance of water safety while celebrating water sports” and focuses on A-adult oversight. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance, Nevada Governor’s Points of Light Awards, and the National Water Safety Congress have all recognized this program. Paragon Pools has partnered with National Water Safety Month, the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, and is a part of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. FMI go to https://www.paragonpoolslv.com/float-like-a-duck
The Step into Swim
Step Into swim , an initiative of Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Foundation is committed to drowning prevention and safe swimming education. Investing in the next generation through
The Step Into Swim initiative, which offers a learn-to swim program, instills confidence and encourages long-term water participation. It also promotes positive water benefits, and encourages safe practices. Step Into swim has been a part of reducing drowning deaths since its launch in 2012. It has provided free swimming lessons to over 285,000 children, with the support of community organizations, partners and industry advocates. For more information, visit www.stepintoswim.org. Rowdy Gaines is the Vice President for Partnerships and Development at Step into Swim. He is an Olympic Gold Medalist.
The post Rowdy Gaines, 3X Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy presents Paragon Pools/Float Like A Duck to the City of Las Vegas and a Step Into Swim Grant first appeared on PoolMagazine.com – Get The Latest Pool News.
