Hayward Holdings, a global designer and manufacturer of pool and outdoor living technology, President and CEO Kevin Holleran presented a $100,000 donation – in honor of the company’s 100th anniversary – to Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA).
Rowdy Gaines, a three-time Olympic gold medalist leading Step Into Swim as PHTA’s vice president of partnerships and development, received the donation at Hayward’s booth at the 2025 Pool and Spa Show in Atlantic City, N.J.
“We are excited to once again partner with Hayward so more children across the country can learn how to swim, build lifelong skills and grow their confidence in the water,” said Gaines. “I want to thank every employee at Hayward whose work made this donation possible and congratulate the company as it celebrates its 100th Anniversary!”
Step Into Swim raised over $1.2 million in 2024 and funded learn-to-swim programs in 43 states, Canada, Grand Cayman and American Samoa. This program provided swim lessons to more than 30,000 children and has gifted more than 400,000 swim lessons since 2012. The program is funded through partner contributions, which are essential for advancing the mission. Every donation goes directly to learn-to-swim programming.
“When kids learn to swim, they unlock new opportunities and build physical and mental health – that’s the power of Step Into Swim,” Holleran said. “This $100,000 donation to commemorate Hayward’s 100th Anniversary will strengthen communities for years to come. Championing this kind of impact makes every one of us who works at Hayward proud to play a small supporting role.”
Hayward’s donation continued the longstanding partnership between the company and the PHTA.
The donation consists of $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in equipment for a Step Into Swim pool. This donation builds on Hayward’s past years of support for Step Into Swim. The company announced a Platinum-level partnership with Step Into Swim last year, and this year’s donation now makes Hayward a Diamond-level partner.
