Swim With Purpose Receives $400,000 Anonymous Donation to Bring KSU Exum Center Pool Renovation Within Reach
Deadline of March 30, 2026 Sets Urgent Call to Action for Community Partners to Help Secure Remaining Funds
Frankfort, KY — January 7, 2026 — Swim With Purpose, a charitable initiative dedicated to raising $1.8 Million for the restoration of the indoor aquatic facility at Kentucky State University's (KSU), today announced an anonymous pledge of $400,000 toward the pool project. The donation marks a transformative milestone and brings the Aquatic Center renovation within reach.
Through a combination of public, private, and institutional support, Swim With Purpose has raised $825,000 in funding, bringing renewed momentum to its efforts to reopen the Exum Center pool, a valued community asset in Frankfort.
Time-Sensitive Opportunity
The anonymous gift is contingent upon additional funding commitments being provided to Kentucky State University by both the City of Frankfort and Franklin County on or before March 30, 2026.
"After several meetings over the past three years with the leading local elected officials, I am confident that both the county and city will support this initiative," stated Sam Taylor, Chairman and Co-Founder of Swim With Purpose.
According to Taylor, "This latest donation places the KSU aquatic project significantly closer to completion, but it also represents a rare and time-critical opportunity for Frankfort," he said. "The coming weeks will be decisive. With the right partnerships in place, we can secure the remaining funds, move this project forward and restore an essential resource that supports safety, recreation, wellness, and youth development throughout our region."
Taylor added, "We stand ready to collaborate with anyone willing to help ensure the pool becomes operational again. We have come too far not to finish what we started."
Kentucky State University President Dr. Koffi C. Akakpo emphasized the significance of the moment. "The alignment of funding, partnerships, and a clear deadline makes this a pivotal point for the project. We are closer than ever, and the actions taken in the coming weeks will determine how soon Frankfort families can once again benefit from this facility."
A Vital Resource for the Frankfort Community
The Exum pool renovation project aims to restore safe, modern access to aquatic programming that serves residents across Franklin County. Once reopened, it will provide a multitude of critical opportunities for:
- Youth swim programs and water safety education
- Community recreation and wellness activities
- Competitive and instructional swimming
- Expanded access to healthy, low-impact exercise for residents of all ages
"For all members of the community, the pool will be a place to learn, heal, train, and connect," Taylor added. "A substantial impact of this project is the immediacy of benefit to the community. From the moment renovations commence, the Exum Center pool can be back online in as few as 150 days."
Call to Action
Due to the time sensitive nature of the $400,000 donation, the Swim with Purpose Board of Directors is asking the public to please take a moment and reach out to local elected leaders to express support of this project in order to secure the remaining funding needed to bring the Exum Center pool back into service.
For questions or additional information, please contact: Sam Taylor, Chairman & Co-Founder, Swim With Purpose, [email protected]
Advancing Water Safety and Youth Impact
Last fall, Swim with Purpose partnered with the YMCA of Central Kentucky to provide free water safety and swim lessons to second- and third-grade students in the Frankfort Independent School District. The initiative received regional media coverage, including:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5–14. Additionally, more than half of U.S. adults have never taken a swim lesson, underscoring the critical need for water safety education at an early age.
About Swim With Purpose
Swim With Purpose (SWP) is a charitable fund managed by the Blue Grass Community Foundation. Founded by AV industry executive and passionate swimmer Sam Taylor, and endorsed by Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps and the Michael Phelps Foundation, SWP aims to revitalize the indoor pool at the Exum Center for the benefit of students, faculty, and the broader community. The initiative will facilitate programs that foster inclusivity and healthy living. To support SWP, please visit: https://bgcf.givingfuel.com/-swim-with-purpose.