For 63 years, the Long Beach Pools of Hope has been a daily miracle, improving the lives of thousands of people with illnesses, injuries or disabilities.
But there was a time 27 years ago when the warm-water facility in North Long Beach almost closed because of financial difficulties.
Coming to the rescue then was Pat Dixon, who was appointed executive director — with the daunting task of finding ways to keep the pools open.
“I had many sleepless nights then, but I loved the mission of the pools and worked hard to keep them open,” Dixon said at the Pools of Hope’s 63rd anniversary awards celebration at the Houghton Park Community Center on June 20. She referred to the celebration “as a remarkable milestone.”
More than 200 supporters, volunteers and guests cheered and applauded as Carlos Urbina, president of the Pools of Hope board of directors, thanked Dixon and community volunteers “whose leadership and commitment help make our mission possible.”
“I have witnessed the profound power of Pools of Hope to transform people’s health and well-being,” Urbina added.
From left: Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, 9th district council member Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie and her daughter, Chloe, and Pools of Hope executive director, Pat Dixon. Dr. Ricks-Oddie received the Champion Award at the 63rd anniversary celebration. (Bobby R. Hester/Courtesy photo)
District 9 Councilmember Joni Ricks-Oddie. (Courtesy photo)
Many lined up as the Pools of Hope, a warm water rehabilitation and wellness facility, re-launch its in-person Respiratory Health Improvement Program in North Long Beach. The free event included asthma screenings, respiratory education, food, recreational swimming and giveaways for children, in Long Beach on Monday, June 27, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Campers joining the celebration for Long Beach City College Foundation and Pools of Hope’s inaugural six-week Summer Wellness Camp in Long Beach on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Pat Dixon, executive director for Pools of Hope, at Long Beach City College Foundation and Pools of Hope’s celebration for their inaugural six-week Summer Wellness Camp in Long Beach on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Pools of Hope in North Long Beach on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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From left: Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, 9th district council member Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie and her daughter, Chloe, and Pools of Hope executive director, Pat Dixon. Dr. Ricks-Oddie received the Champion Award at the 63rd anniversary celebration. (Bobby R. Hester/Courtesy photo)
An inspirational video, “Why We Are Here,” was shown with people whose lives have been touched by Pools of Hope telling their own stories on how the pools have helped them. Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, a longtime supporter of the pools and himself the recipient of the 2023 Legacy Award, praised Dixon for restoring and expanding the role of the pools in helping people.
“The Pools of Hope,” he said, “is an example of what can be accomplished with leaders like Pat Dixon and her staff.”
Richardson presented the Champion Award to Long Beach Councilmember Joni Ricks-Oddie, whose Ninth District includes Pools of Hope.
The award, Richardson said, was presented to her “for her dedication to supporting the Pools of Hope in providing life-changing therapeutic aquatic and wellness programs to the North Long Beach community.”
Ricks-Oddie accepted the award along with Chloe, her 5-year-old daughter.
In addition to that award, other awards presented included:
The Evelyn duPont Award, which went to the LA84 Foundation for its support of the Therapeutic Swimming Lessons program for children with special needs. Roberto Recinos accepted.
The Life Saver Award, which went to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for its support of the Food Pantry Program helping families in need. Staci Loveridge accepted.
The Legacy Award, which went to Archstone Foundation for its longstanding dedication to helping older adults. Gerson Galdamez accepted.
The Extraordinary Service Award, which went to Alecia Ojinaga, director of Pools of Hope Fund Development.
The Cornerstone Award, which went to Shamara Banks for her exceptional service in advancing the work of Pools of Hope.
The Life Vest Award, which went to the Long Beach City College Foundation for its collaboration with Pools of Hope and its summer youth camp program. Paul Kaminski, foundation president, and Gina Mascaro, foundation chief operating officer, accepted.
Since 1963, the pools have provided more than 1 million therapy sessions to improve the lives of more than 100,000 residents throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties.
The pools offer shallow areas for water aerobics, exercising, walking, jogging and swimming, and deeper areas for lap swimming and therapeutic exercises.
The Pools of Hope was founded by Evelyn duPont, one of Long Beach’s more colorful and giving characters.
Born in Canada, she loved the water so much she became a competitive swimmer amid ice floes on the St. Lawrence River. Wearing a gold swimsuit, she was an aquatic star and performed in water shows in East Coast hotels in the 1940s.
She moved to Long Beach in 1950 so she could enjoy the warm climate and swim all year.
But her life changed abruptly when she was diagnosed with polio and told she not only would not swim again but also not walk again. But she was undaunted. She built a chair lift in her backyard pool and began a rigorous swimming program that led to her recovery — and she did, in fact, walk again.
“It was a miracle,” she said at the time. “Now I’m walking in heels, dancing and showing off.”
When she was using her pool, she let children with disabilities use the lift as well. Her pool was so popular it became overcrowded, and she began looking for a bigger pool to help more people.
In 1963, she bought the former Long Beach Swim School site, 6801 Long Beach Blvd., and started what became Pools of Hope. She died in the 1990s, but her dream of helping others lives on.
When duPont was alive and raising money, she referred to “flying angels” who kept the Pools of Hope going.
Dixon is one of those flying angels — a miracle worker who has kept duPont’s legacy alive.
An interesting footnote: Dixon was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, capital of the Muscogee Creek nation. In the Muscogee language, Okmulgee means “boiling waters.” So Dixon had an early experience with warm water before her work with the amazing Pools of Hope.