Partnership expands access to free water safety education for Florida children

Orlando, FL (January 30, 2026) – Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) 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 (RAFC), a state-of-the-art aquatic and recreation facility. The Step Into Swim 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, at the Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center Teaching Pool Powered by Step Into Swim.

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 to the RAFC.

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 as part of the Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center’s Learn to Swim program. 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 individuals with autism, anxiety, sensory needs, motor challenges, or those who learn differently. These certifications will strengthen Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center’s programming and help ensure a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all students and their families.

“Step Into Swim is honored to expand our partnership with Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center, and we are proud to support their efforts to educate and protect vulnerable communities, including their dedicated learn-to-swim program for children with different abilities,” said three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines, PHTA Vice President of Partnerships and Development, who leads the Step Into Swim initiative. ”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.”

Gaines was joined by Frank Santos, Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center Board Chair and Rosen Hotels & Resorts President and CEO; Dr. John “Lucky” Meisenheimer of the Meisenheimer Family Foundation; Michael Miller, Executive Director of the Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center and other representatives from the RAFC Board of Directors and guests during the grant presentation, who each offered remarks about the positive impact the funds will have in the local community.

“In a state surrounded by water, childhood drownings are far too often. That’s why swimming and water safety education are essential to drowning prevention efforts,” said Miller. “Our mission is to ensure financial or physical barriers never stand in the way of safety and, with the support of this generous grant from Step Into Swim, we’re expanding our offerings to include free adaptive swim lessons specifically designed for children with disabilities.”

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 Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center is a pivotal partnership to continue these important water safety education and access efforts.

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