With more than 40 years in business, Don Riling, president of Olympic Hot Tub, decided in 2017 it was time to give back to his community in a big way. It was then that Olympic held its first Honoring Heroes event, donating a portion of sales proceeds to a charitable cause that honors or celebrates local heroes, first responders or teachers.
The 2019 Honoring Heroes event was held during the month of April, with proceeds from the sale of each Hot Spring Spa, Freeflow Spa and Covana Automated Gazebo sold that month benefiting Water for a Warrior, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The two organizations crossed paths at the 2018 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo in Las Vegas last November, leading to this fundraising partnership.
Founded in 2015 by four Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (formerly APSP) southern California chapter members, Water for a Warrior provides hot tubs and other aquatic therapy to aid in the recovery and long-term therapeutic care of wounded veterans. Those involved take no salary, so 100% of donations received go directly toward the program.
“We just could not feel more blessed that Olympic Hot Tub stepped up, helped us and made us the benefactor of this year’s project,” says Jennifer Bishop, one of the founding members of Water for a Warrior. Surpassing its $15,000 fundraising goal, Olympic raised $16,100 for Water for a Warrior through April’s sales. Bishop and Riling are now working together to determine how many combat/service wounded veterans they can help in the Seattle area with the funds raised.
“I was especially excited about Water for a Warrior as the beneficiary for our event this year,” Riling says. “Their goal to help vets get the vital hot water therapy they need perfectly aligns with our goal to enhance health and well-being through hot tubbing. I’m happy we can help them with their mission.”
Bishop agrees. “We’re right on the same path,” she says. “It’s so synergistic. And we’re hopeful the recognition from this event provides us with additional momentum for ongoing support from other local communities.”