Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) dedicated to creating more swimmers through safe swim education, is pleased to announce partnerships with BioLab, Solenis, Periodic Products, and Teserra Outdoors. These four partners are donating a total of $85,000, which will help Step Into Swim gift grants to learn-to-swim providers across the country and fund swim lessons for over 1,000 children while lowering the drowning rate.
These generous donations helped to build Step Into Swim’s most successful quarter of fundraising ever, with total donations exceeding $800,000 in the first three months of 2025. This support will allow Step Into Swim to provide funding to more learn-to-swim programs across the country as they prepare for the peak summer swim season.
“I am overwhelmed by the incredible support of these leading companies within the pool, spa, and hot tub industry,” says Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines, Vice President of Partnerships & Development at PHTA, who leads the Step Into Swim initiative. “Together, we are spreading the message that our industry is united in the fight against drowning. Thanks to the generosity of BioLab, Solenis, Periodic Products, and Teserra Outdoors, we will be able to provide the gift of lifesaving swim lessons to more communities than ever before.”
Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4, though learning to swim from a qualified instructor reduces the risk of drowning by 88% among this age group. Step Into Swim is taking an active role to reduce drowning by reaching as many families as possible through safe swimming education.
PHTA Strategic Partner BioLab is one of the nation’s leading suppliers of swimming pool and spa water treatment products. In addition to the company’s Gold Level sponsorship, BioLab also developed a company-wide initiative to support Step Into Swim through a charity T-shirt sale for employees, dealers, and consumers, with 100% of proceeds going to Step Into Swim throughout 2025.
“At BioLab, we believe that every person deserves the opportunity to learn how to swim. It’s important that young children, children with special needs, and impoverished kids acquire this lifesaving skill that promotes safety and confidence in the water,” says PHTA Board Member Ted Lawrence, Vice President of Pro Sales at BioLab. “That’s why we are proud to support PHTA’s Step Into Swim program by not only donating but supporting the initiative by selling T-shirts and rallying our dedicated BioGuard Dealers to join the cause. Together, we are making a meaningful impact by helping more children gain access to swim education and ensuring a safer future for all.”
Solenis donates $30,000 to Step Into Swim.
PHTA Strategic Partner Solenis is a leading global provider of water treatment solutions for residential and commercial pools and spas. Through its Gold Level sponsorship, Solenis will help Step Into Swim provide learn-to-swim programming for 700 children.
“We are proud to be a small part in Step Into Swim’s mission to create more swimmers,” says Brian Durant, Senior Director of Sales North America at Solenis. “Drowning prevention is crucial as it saves lives and promotes water safety, especially among children. By supporting Step Into Swim, Solenis is not only contributing to a vital cause but also aligning with our commitment to water safety and education.”
Periodic Products donates $20,000 to Step Into Swim.
Periodic Products is committed to advancing a cleaner, safer, and more energy-efficient global environment through the application of responsible science and breakthrough chemical technologies. After several years as a Gold Level sponsor, Periodic Products is proud to be the first company to donate to the newly created Rowdy Gaines Water Safety Champion Endowment Fund, which will establish long-term, sustainable support of Step Into Swim for many years to come.
“This sponsorship at the Gold Level for three consecutive years demonstrates Periodic Products’ commitment to the mission of the Step Into Swim initiative of eliminating childhood drownings,” says Joseph Laurino, Ph.D., President and CEO of Periodic Products and Immediate Past Chairman of the PHTA Board of Directors. “This year, our contribution also represents the first corporate donation, matched by the PHTA Board of Directors, to the Rowdy Gaines Water Safety Champion Endowment Fund, the endowment created last year by the PHTA Board of Directors to support the Step Into Swim mission in perpetuity.”
Teserra Outdoors donates $10,000 to Step Into Swim.
Teserra Outdoors has designed and built breathtaking outdoor retreats in Southern California for over four decades. Through its Silver Level sponsorship, Teserra Outdoors will help Step Into Swim provide learn-to-swim programming for 200 children.
“Everyone at Teserra is excited to be supporting Step Into Swim,” says PHTA Board Member Paul Yates, President of Teserra. “Hearing the statistics about child death rates from drowning was staggering to myself and my business partners. Partnering with Step Into Swim will be a great opportunity for Teserra to be able to give back to our community and help save lives!”
Step Into Swim and its supporters provide the lifesaving skill of learning to swim and raise awareness of the pool and hot tub industry’s role in improving public health and safety. In 2024, Step Into Swim raised over $1.2 million, which provided grants across 43 states, Canada, Grand Cayman, and American Samoa and funded swim lessons for over 30,000 children. The initiative has gifted more than 400,000 swim lessons since 2012. Step Into Swim 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 www.stepintoswim.org.
