Hickey Trust donates $38,000 for ECAP Fun Zone for clients with autism

The sounds of happy children erupted from the Fun Room at Florida State University Panama City’s Early Childhood Autism Program as youngsters got their first exposure to a new enclosed playground area.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official opening of the renovated ECAP Fun Room at on Friday, Feb. 7. Made possible by a generous donation of $38,000 from the Edward F. Hickey Jr. Memorial Trust, the play space includes an activity area with slides, tunnels and more.

Family members of ECAP clients joined donor representatives, staff and faculty for the opening ceremony.

“Being able to have a playroom where they can regulate themselves, have some downtime … it’s just beneficial all around to his day-to-day performance,” said Jessica Kelley, whose 14-year-old son Miles is an ECAP client. “Miles likes to be active. He loves to jump, he loves to swing. For him, it’s super-important to have that option.”

ECAP is the only non-profit program of its kind in the Panhandle to provide in-home and in-clinic services. ECAP serves children diagnosed with (or presenting symptoms of) developmental delays or disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and intellectual disability. The program also has an approved practicum placement for graduate students enrolled in the FSU master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis.

“We serve kids using Applied Behavior Analysis therapy,” said Amy Polick, Ph.D., the ECAP development director and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for FSU Panama City. “We provide one-on-one teaching to provide kids with skills that they need to learn to be happy and successful in the environments they’re in, whether that’s the home, school or the community.”

Hickey, a pioneer in the Panama City Beach business community since the mid-20th century, died in 2021. He owned and operated several businesses in Panama City Beach over the years, including Ed’s Beach Services, providing jobs and opportunities to generations of Bay County residents.

“Mr. Hickey was a local icon who lived to be 94 years of age. He was like a father to me,” said Jeff DiBenedictis, executor of the trust and division president for Cadence Bank. “He left the bulk of his estate to the trust so that his legacy could live on, and he could continue to have an impact upon the community.”

For more information about ECAP, visit pc.fsu/edu/ecap.