Winter’s story has also been featured in magazines such as People, Reader’s Digest, Time, Women’s World, Scholastic, Nat Geo for Kids and too many others to recount. Yates’ unwavering vision has come to fruition and drawn an unparalleled amount of tourists to the Clearwater, Florida area to see Winter and learn more about her story and CMA’s mission. These initiatives and the increase in attendance have created a multi-billion dollar economic impact for hotels, restaurants and other attractions in the Clearwater Beach area and Statewide. 

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Millions around the world have been brought life-changing inspiration by David’s work with Ironman and Winter the Dolphin. 

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Yates has produced a documentary on Winter’s story and has helped produce six books about her. Yates is also Co-Producer/Executive Producer of the #1 box office hit Dolphin Tale and its sequel, Dolphin Tale 2, the Warner Bros.-based Alcon Entertainment major motion pictures that star Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson, Nathan Gamble, Cozi Zuehlsdorff, Austin Highsmith and Austin Stowell.

 

Yates also directed and wrote the documentary “Winter, the Dolphin That Can”, and directed the web series Rescue-Clearwater. Yates and his wife Joan reside in Palm Harbor, Florida and have four grown children.