Throughout the year, NESPA’s network of members across the Northeast are always advocating for water safety, not only by upholding the highest standards in their daily work, but also by coming together for a variety of annual events that raise critical funds for impactful causes. NESPA wanted to highlight a few of these admirable chapter-led initiatives that directly support water safety organizations and programs.
Penn-Jersey Chapter – WITI Walk
It didn’t take long for the Penn-Jersey Chapter’s annual WITI Walk to make a meaningful impact. This charity walk/run benefits Every Child a Swimmer, a NESPA Foundation partner dedicated to ensuring every child has access to life-saving swim lessons.
To amplify its impact, the NESPA Foundation matches every dollar raised, and the Bill Kent Family Foundation doubles it again - quadrupling each contribution before it goes directly toward swim lesson grants across the Northeast.
Metro NY/NJ Chapter – Bill Baumann Memorial Golf Outing
In 2026, the Bill Baumann Memorial Golf Outing will support Step Into Swim for the second consecutive year. This fun-filled event offers participants a day of golf and networking while contributing to a program focused on water safety and swim education.
Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, is committed to creating more swimmers through safe, accessible education. Led by Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, the program provides free swim lessons and supports learn-to-swim initiatives, particularly in underserved communities.
CONSPA Chapter – Annual Charity Golf Tournament
CONSPA’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament combines a day of fun with meaningful impact. Proceeds support two important causes: Children of Fallen Patriots, which provides scholarships and educational support to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty, and Step Into Swim, further advancing water safety and swim education efforts.
LIPSA – Artie Edwards Invitational Golf Outing
The Long Island Pool & Spa Association (LIPSA) continues to raise tens of thousands of dollars each year through the Artie Edwards Invitational Golf Outing. Funds from this event directly support local drowning prevention and water safety initiatives, including Kids Swim Long Island, Step Into Swim, Every Child a Swimmer, and Special Olympics New York.
These initiatives reflect the strong commitment of NESPA members to making water safety education and resources more accessible across throughout region, and help to create more safe swimmers for years to come!