Our Beginning

Nashville Dolphins started in 2003 when our founder, Beth Scruggs, agreed to help a swimmer with Down Syndrome improve her swimming skills in order to compete in the Special Olympics. Today more than 330 swimmers participate in the aquatics programming we provide, ranging from beginners just learning to blow bubbles to long-distance champions practicing several days a week. Because swimming is a lifelong sport with far-reaching benefits for an individual’s health and well being, we serve swimmers of all ages with no age-out policy. And because of the intensity of our mission to bring the physical and emotional benefits of swimming to people with special needs regardless of age, ability or financial circumstances, we provide all programming at no cost to the participant.

Our Mission

It is the Nashville Dolphins' mission to improve the health and quality of life for children and adults with special needs and combat the alarmingly high statistic of drowning deaths. The Nashville Dolphins provide adaptive aquatic lessons ranging from water safety and survival through competitive swim team programming for participants at no cost. In addition, we empower our swimmers to experience the joy and pride of being a lifetime member of the Nashville Dolphins family. Our programs aim to enhance the quality, health, and safety of the daily lives of both our participants and their family members, within a safe and socially supportive community environment.

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Our Future

Because of the success of our programs, the passion of our volunteers, and the incredible determination of our participants, we have grown steadily throughout the years. With no swimmers aging out and new swimmers joining all the time, our numbers continue to increase, as do our offerings. From one-on-one lessons for children entering the water for the first time to overnight trips for our national competitors to our strategic plan to build our own facility in the future, we continue to devise new ways to meet the diverse needs of our participants and their families. Swimming is a lifelong sport, and we plan to be there every stroke, kick, and smile of the way.

Leadership

Beth Scruggs

Co-Founder

Beth is a native Nashvillian and an avid swimmer. Beth served as the Aquatics Director for Special Olympics Tennessee for 20 years and even traveled to Shanghai, China as US Coach for Special Olympics World Games. Seeing a need in Nashville for more swim programs for children and adults with special needs, she created the Nashville Dolphins in 2003. She graduated from Harpeth Hall and the University of Mississippi where she met her husband Cooley. They have two adult children and four grandchildren.

Dotty Sutter

CO-FOUNDER and CFO

Dotty received her degree in accounting from the University of Vermont Business school. In 2010 she joined the Nashville Dolphins as a volunteer to assist with development. Dotty has since been instrumental in developing our administration and operations. She was the original Chairman of the Board and served as chairman from 2013-2015. Dotty and her husband Trey, along with their three children, have been active supporters and volunteers for the Dolphins since 2005.

Brenda Vroon

Executive Director

Brenda swam competitively growing up in Marietta, Georgia and has been teaching, swimming, and coaching since she was a teenager. Brenda earned her degree in Health and Physical Education from Auburn University. She is a former P.E. Teacher at Lipscomb Elementary School in Brentwood. She has also worked as the head swim coach for the Brentwood Middle School, Brentwood High School and the Wildwood Gators summer league team. Brenda holds a coaching certification from Special Olympics Tennessee, teaching certifications from Swim Angelfish Adapted Aquatics-levels 1,2,3, Starfish Aquatic Institute-Adapted Aquatics Credential and United States Swim Association. She is an Autism Swim approved Instructor. Brenda was a volunteer and a Lead Instructor for our Future and Junior Dolphin classes for several years and currently serves as the Dolphins Swim Team Coach and Executive Director. She is married to Brad and has three boys; Jackson, Taylor and Noah.

Tara Patil

Director of Operations

Tara grew up and went to school in Wisconsin and has a BS degree in Human Biology and an MS degree in Adult Fitness and Cardiac Rehabilitation. Tara has spent the last ten volunteering for nonprofits and serving as president, treasurer, and doing fundraising and communications on the PTO boards of her children’s schools. She also served on the WCS PTO Leadership Council. Tara is married with two children, and got involved with the Dolphins when she and her children signed up to volunteer.

Jill Graffagnino

marketing director/grant writer

Originally from Long Island, New York, Jill moved to Nashville in 2016 as a freshman to attend Belmont University. Upon graduating with a degree in Marketing and falling in love with the city, Jill knew Nashville was meant to be her new home. She first got involved with the Dolphins after attending and volunteering at the first Drive For Dolphins event. From that day she knew she wanted to get further involved with the Dolphins and their mission.

Pam Walston

Program director

Pam is returning to the world of aquatics after many years of classroom teaching and serving in non-profit organizations. Pam attended Cardinal Stritch University in Wisconsin, majoring in Education and Special Education. She received her Montessori Teaching Certification from NCME in Atlanta. Pam has coaching certifications from US Masters Swimming, the World Open Water Swim Association, and TN Special Olympics. She has teaching certifications through the Swimming Saves Lives Foundation-ALTS, Swim Angelfish Adapted Aquatics-levels 1,2,3 and Pediatric Aquatic Therapy, Starfish Aquatics Institute-Adapted Aquatics credential and the US Swim School Association. Pam is an Autism Swim certified Instructor. Pam fell in love with the Dolphins as a volunteer. She is married, has three grown children and four grandchildren.

Board of Directors

Executive Board

Wes Williams, President, DentaQuest
Allie Schoen, Secretary, LHH Tyler Michael, Treasurer, Deloitte Amy Adams, Community Volunteer
Brian Adams, Excelsior Capital Wynne Barton, OneOncology Melissa Beasley, Community Volunteer Taylor Chenery, Bass, Berry and Sims Treanor Granbery, Southeast Venture LLC Warren Johnson, Alston Construction Tim Jones, Tennessee State University
Mary Moore, Sarah Cannon Oncology Research Institute Julia Morris, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Skipper Phipps, Phipps Construction
Robert Ramsey, RW Baird Financial
Beth Scruggs, Co-Founder, Nashville Dolphins Lisa Spellman, Community Volunteer Dotty Sutter, Co-Founder, CFO, Nashville Dolphins
Meg Turner, Community Volunteer

Associate Board

Amber Moore, Chair, Parallon Caitlin Barnickel, Occupational Therapist Murray Dick, Metro Nashville Public Schools Sarah Caye, Wiatr & Associates Kathleen Kestermann, HUB International
Julie King, Caterpillar Financial Services
Jackson Vroon, Vroon Movers
Taylor Vroon, Vroon Movers