Press Release

Alexandria, VA (October 12, 2021) – Florida ranks fourth in the nation for
unintentional drowning deaths[1]
including swimming and boating-related incidents. On Friday, October 8, swimming
and pool industry leaders from the Pool & Hot Tub Foundation (PHTF), the Florida
Swimming Pool Association (FSPA) and the International Swimming Hall of Fame
(ISHOF) announced a joint partnership to help combat drowning in the state. The
one-year agreement between the three organizations marks a pivotal
collaboration to further promote swimming education and share available
resources providing free or reduced-cost swimming lessons in Florida
communities.

As part of the collaboration, the
organizations will work together to advance water safety and support each
organization’s respective swim education initiatives—Step Into Swim^TM
(PHTF), Florida Swims Foundation (FSPA) and Every Child A Swimmer (ISHOF),
which all strive to empower people around the water and decrease drowning,
particularly with young children who are at an increased risk.  

Olympian and three-time gold medalist, Rowdy Gaines, is leading the Step
Into Swim initiative on behalf of PHTF. “Drowning is largely preventable and it
pains me to see drowning rates increase in the U.S. and for my home state of
Florida to be high on that list. This trifecta of support from leading
organizations will give Floridian families and communities access to critical water
safety skills,” said Gaines, Vice President of Partnerships and Development for
PHTF. “By teaching our youth the lifesaving gift of learning to swim, we can
make a real, lasting impact and instill confidence in people as they take to
the water.”

“The partnership couldn’t come at a
better time as the International Swimming Hall of Fame is building upon the
momentum from Florida’s Every Child A Swimmer bill, which requires schools to
inform parents on the importance of teaching their children how to swim,” said
Bill Kent, Chairman of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. “The more we
all advocate for safe water practices, the bigger impact we’ll continue to
have.”

The joint partnership kicks off in
October with a formal signing ceremony on Friday, October 8. As part of the
agreement, the Florida Swimming Pool Association will become a founding member
of the partnership established by PHTA’s Step Into Swim and ISHOF’s Every Child
A Swimmer programs in the summer of 2021.

“We are proud to partner with the Pool
& Hot Tub Foundation and International Swimming Hall of Fame to provide
learn-to-swim programming to hundreds of thousands of children across the
country,” said Maurice Bushroe, 2021 FSPA President.  “The members of our 16 chapters across Florida
will be providing support for critical water safety awareness that will
continue to make a difference in the lives of children and their families.”

About Pool & Hot Tub Foundation
and Step Into Swim:
The
Pool & Hot Tub Foundation (PHTF) is a 501(c)(3) that is governed by the
Pool & Hot Tub Association. PHTF provides education to the pool and hot tub
industry and is the fundraising and philanthropic arm for PHTA supported
programs.

Step Into Swim^TM is an
initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance 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 280,000 children with
support from community organizations, partners, industry advocates, members and
more. For more information, visit www.stepintoswim.org.

About Florida Swimming Pool
Association and Florida Swims Foundation:

Florida Swimming Pool Association, (FSPA) is a 501(c)6 that serves as the
coordinating organization for 16 local Florida chapters. It provides
educational programs and government and legislative representation for the
swimming pool industry in Florida. FSPA is the primary sponsor of the Florida Swims Foundation (FSF), a
501c(3) that contributes to swimming safety programs and scholarships for FSPA
members and families. For more information, visit www.floridapoolpro.com.

About
International Swimming Hall of Fame and Every Child A Swimmer:

The International
Swimming Hall of Fame is an organization organized under Section 501(c)(3) of
the IRC with a primary mission to collaborate with aquatic organizations
worldwide to preserve, educate and celebrate the history of aquatic sports
while promoting swimming instruction for children through its Every Child A
Swimmer program. For more information, visit https://ishof.org/.

Every Child A Swimmer is a registered trademark of the
ISHOF and represents the ISHOF founding fathers’ spiritual mission: to prevent
childhood drownings and further legislative action that would encourage parents
to teach their kids how to swim before they enter kindergarten. For more
information, visit www.everychildaswimmer.org.