Step Into Swim Program Celebrates Partnership with Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center with $110,000 Grant

Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance dedicated to creating more swimmers through safe swim education, joined community leaders and elected officials to present a $110,000 grant to the Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center, a state-of-the-art aquatic and recreation facility. The grant will allow the RAFC learn-to-swim program to provide water safety education to the local community, including a special set of swim lessons for children with different abilities. 

Florida has one of the highest drowning rates in the country, making swim lessons a critical component in drowning prevention efforts. With a mission to make these lessons accessible to the community, RAFC’s board of directors made a combined gift of $55,000 to Step Into Swim, which was then matched by PHTA’s board of directors to provide a $110,000 grant.

These funds will be used to offer Preschool Level 1, Preschool Level 2, School Age Introductory and School Age Level 1 group swim lessons to children in the Orlando area. The facility also plans to expand its adaptive swim offerings, providing children with different abilities the opportunity to participate in group lessons or receive private instruction at no cost, based on individual needs. Instructors will undergo training through Swim Angelfish, a nationally recognized program that equips aquatic professionals with advanced adaptive teaching strategies to meet the needs of people with autism, anxiety, sensory needs, motor challenges or those who learn differently.“Rosen’s learn-to-swim program is providing a critical, life-saving service to the local community and has a wide-ranging and lasting impact in improving safety in and around the water,” says three-time Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, PHTA vice president of partnerships and development, who leads the Step Into Swim initiative.

In 2025 alone, Step Into Swim raised more than $1.5 million, funding swim lessons for nearly 20,000 children across the country and abroad. The initiative’s work with the RAFC is a pivotal partnership to continue these efforts.

To learn more about Step Into Swim, visit StepIntoSwim.org. For more information on the Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center and its learn-to-swim program, visit rosenaquatic.com.