An $18 million fundraising effort to build a proposed Healthy Life Center in Ames took a major step forward with the announcement Thursday of a $3 million gift from Rich and Mary Fitch of Ames. Mary Fitch's parents, Don and Ruth Furman, gave a $2 million gift to help build the outdoor aquatic center in Ames that bears their name. The $48 million Healthy Life Center is a proposed partnership between the city, Iowa State, Heartland Senior Services, Mary Greeley Medical Center, Des Moines Area Community College and Story County.