Local Nonprofit Celebrates 10 Years With Olympic Gold Medalist

By Wendy Rudman

The Emerald Coast Fitness Foundation (ECFF), a nonprofit formed around a kitchen table 10 years ago, is celebrating hitting 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 is holding Splash of Gold May 17, which will feature 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 will be held at the Taj Renee Community Aquatic Center at 4345 Commons Drive W. 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 will also include an online auction, which will wrap up on May 17th. Items include 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 like Splash of Gold.

The May 17 events include:

• Morning youth swimming clinics with Cody Miller. Tickets are $100 each, with a discount for siblings. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/breakout-swim-clinic-with-olympian-cody-miller-tickets-1253076719199?aff=oddtdtcreator
• An afternoon Pool Party from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., which includes family splash time in our pool, demonstrations, sweet treats, and a chance to meet Olympian Cody Miller. $25 admission for the family.
• An evening Cocktail Social from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., where ECFF will unveil the 2025 Okaloosa Swim and Dive Hall of Fame inductees and Cody Miller will share some of his experiences. Heavy appetizers and cold drinks included. $62 per individual or $100 per couple.

Purchase tickets at https://ecfitnessfoundation.org/fundraiser/.

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