Every Child A Swimmer Initiative Gains Momentum

Swim education and drowning prevention initiatives are creating a big splash.

The USA Swimming Foundation today announced that it has awarded $898,184 to learn to swim programs across the country through its 2022 grant program – the largest ever dollar amount awarded through its grant program for swim lesson providers.

Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Foundation (PHTF) committed to safer swim education and drowning prevention, contributed $200,000 to the total awarded, helping bring the learn-to-swim grant award to the largest amount in USA Swimming foundation history. Step Into Swim’s donation helps the Foundation continue to save lives and build champions, by offering low to no-cost swim lesson scholarships for qualified children.

“Learning to swim from a qualified instructor drastically reduces the risk of childhood drowning by 88%. The more awareness we bring to the importance of swim instruction, the more lives we can save,” says three-time Olympic gold medalist and VP of Partnerships and Development for PHTA Rowdy Gaines. “Step Into Swim is proud to collaborate with an organization like the USA Swimming Foundation, whose efforts to support learn-to-swim programs is important, life-saving work.”