By Wendy Rudman
The Emerald Coast Fitness Foundation (ECFF), a nonprofit formed around a kitchen table 10 years ago, is celebrating a key milestone. The foundation operates two facilities in Fort Walton Beach and an aquatic center in Destin – all of which are open to the public.
Over the years, the organization has welcomed more than 5,000 swimmers of all ages to its pools, teaching some to swim and giving others opportunities to train and compete.
To commemorate 10 years of bringing pools back to local communities, ECFF held a Splash of Gold May 17, which featured Olympian swim clinics, a giant pool party and an evening cocktail social. Gold medalist Olympic swimmer, Cody Miller, will be teaching the youth clinics, signing autographs at the pool party and speaking at the evening cocktail social. The event was held at the Taj Renee Community Aquatic Center in Destin.
“I’m excited for our keynote participant, Cody Miller,” said ECFF Board President Kevin Leibold. “I’m looking forward to watching him bring his expertise to local swimmers and to hearing how he relates his professional swimming career to them.”
Kathi Heapy, one of the founders of the foundation, reached out to Miller early this year after enjoying his swimming YouTube videos for years. Miller is a prolific YouTuber, as well as an Olympic gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 4 X 100 medley relay.
Both swam for Indiana University, which makes them family, she said.
“I emailed him, mentioned that I was also an Indiana swimmer, and told him what our foundation is doing here,” Heapy said. “Next thing, I got a text. ‘Hi, this is Cody Miller. Let’s set up a time to talk.’”
Heapy said Miller was compelled by the foundation’s mission, which is to bring aquatic opportunities to all. Ten middle school teams, six high school teams, two summer leagues and one year-round team practice or compete at ECFF pools. Additionally, more than 1,000 children and adults take lessons in foundation pools each year. In 2024, the foundation added adaptive swim lessons and its second pool in Fort Walton Beach to expand these unique offerings.
“The foundation is growing,” Heapy said, adding that when they started 10 years ago, they assumed a larger entity would take up their mission of operating local pools. That never happened, but support from businesses like Tim Smith Acura, which has contributed generously to a large spring fundraiser for the last several years, has helped the foundation to succeed and thrive.
This year for the first time, the spring fundraising event included an online auction with items such as beachfront stays, vacations, charter boat trips, premium bourbon baskets and Olympic gold medalist memorabilia.
The foundation is a 501(c)3 organization, which is funded by memberships, business sponsorships and fundraisers such as Splash of Gold.
Cutlines:
Gold medal Olympic swimmer Cody Miller visited Destin May 17 to promote the Emerald Coast Fitness Foundation, which provides facilities for public swimming in Okaloosa County.
