PHTA Central Arizona and Step Into Swim Donate $20K to YMCA

(Phoenix, Az.) – The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) Central Arizona Chapter, in partnership with PHTA’s Step Into Swim drowning prevention initiative, presented a $20,000 donation to the Valley of the Sun YMCA during a special event on April 30, 2026, at the YMCA Legacy Foundation Chris-Town.

This generous contribution will directly fund swim lesson programs for children and families throughout the Phoenix community, helping increase access to critical water safety education and drowning prevention resources.

The event brought together members of the Valley of the Sun YMCA, leadership from the PHTA Central Arizona Chapter, and special guest Rowdy Gaines, three-time Olympic gold medalist, who leads the Step Into Swim initiative as PHTA’s Vice President of Partnerships & Development.

“Learning to swim is not just a life skill—it’s a lifesaving skill,” says Scott Bushey, President of the PHTA Central Arizona Chapter. “Through this partnership with Step Into Swim and the YMCA, we are proud to invest in programs that give children the confidence and ability to stay safe in and around water.”

Drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death in Arizona, particularly among young children. Access to swim lessons has been proven to significantly reduce the risk of drowning, making community-based programs like those offered by the YMCA essential.

“Drowning is preventable, and swim lessons save lives,” says Garrett Brolsma, Chief Operating Officer of the Valley of the Sun YMCA. “We’re grateful to the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Central Arizona Chapter and Step Into Swim for this $20,000 investment, which will help more Phoenix families access lifesaving water safety skills.”

PHTA, the trade association representing the swimming pool, hot tub, and spa industry, formed the Step Into Swim drowning prevention initiative in 2012 and has gifted more than 500,000 swim lessons to children and families across the country and abroad. This collaboration with the local PHTA Central Arizona Chapter highlights a shared commitment to water safety and community impact.

“Step Into Swim receiving support from regional PHTA Chapters has a huge effect on individual communities and helps us focus our funding on the children and families who need it most,” says Gaines. “We are proud to work alongside the PHTA Central Arizona Chapter to help the Valley of the Sun YMCA expand the reach of their lifesaving mission, and we thank the local PHTA members who made this generous donation possible.”

The April 30th event included remarks from community leaders, a ceremonial check presentation, and opportunities to highlight the importance of water safety education as Arizona approaches the peak summer swim season.

To learn more, visit www.stepintoswim.org.

About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance and Step Into Swim™:
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with 4,000 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $62B pool, hot tub, and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth initiatives to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge, and profitability. Additionally, PHTA promotes the use of pools by expanding swimming, water safety, and related research and outreach activities aimed at introducing more people to swimming, making swimming environments safer, and keeping pools open to serve communities. For more information, visit www.phta.org.

Step Into Swim™ is an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance and its foundation 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 500,000 children with support from community organizations, partners, industry advocates, members, and more. For more information, visit www.stepintoswim.org.

About Valley of the Sun YMCA:
The Valley of the Sun YMCA is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the Phoenix community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. With a strong commitment to water safety, the Y provides accessible swim lessons and drowning prevention education to children and families across the region—regardless of financial circumstance. Through community partnerships and evidence-based programming, the YMCA helps equip individuals with the skills and confidence to be safe in and around water. As Arizona faces one of the highest drowning rates in the nation, the Valley of the Sun YMCA remains focused on expanding access to lifesaving swim education so every child has the opportunity to learn this critical skill.