Extra Special People

The last charity we will be featuring is Extra Special People! Sound familiar? Extra Special People hosts a Big Hearts Pageant every year that gives disabled children the chance to shine and truly feel like a star for the night! Many of the UGA football players, Miss Georgia and other big members of the student body participate in this life changing night and since the last pageant was in early February it may be something you've heard of! ESP is near and dear to our hearts at Entourage because of all the amazing work they do for children with disabilities around the area! Not only is their staff amazing, but their message and heart felt connection with the children is out of this world! Interested? Read a little bit more....

1.) What inspired you to start Extra Special People?

Extra Special People (ESP) was founded by Martha Wyllie in 1986 as a way to offer children with disabilities recreation opportunities during the summer. Martha had a passion for serving special-needs kids, but when she looked around, she realized that once these children got out of school for the summer, they had few opportunities for stimulation. Just like any other young person, kids with disabilities deserve the chance to have fun, get exercise, and grow socially during the summer months. Martha passed away in 2004, but her legacy lives on in ESP, where our programs have expanded from a few weeks during the summer to a seven-week summer camp with a full complement of year-round weekend and after-school activities.

2.) What is the one thing you would want the public to know about your organization if you could say nothing else?

ESP is not just a place for kids with disabilities to exist. At ESP, they THRIVE. They are welcomed as entirely special, but not singled out for being different. At ESP, kids, young adults, and families find a sense of community, love, and support that is critical to helping them live full lives. Young people viewed as having "limitations" are doing extraordinary things at ESP!

3.) If someone wants to donate or contribute to your cause, what is the best way or the thing you need to most?

ESP just launched its first-ever capital campaign, with the goal to raise $5.8 million over three years. That money will help fund a new building and ensure the future of our programs and summer camp. Beyond money, though, which just about every nonprofit needs, ESP needs dedicated volunteers who have the patience and love to commit to our children and young adults. No experience with special-needs populations is necessary. Email Samantha@extraspecialpeople.com or visit extraspecialpeople.com to learn more about volunteer opportunities.

4.) National organization or charity that inspires you the most?

Special Olympics, which provides an opportunity for special needs children and adults to compete a couple of times a year. Inspired by that example, ESP is supplementing the work of Special Olympics by providing continuous opportunities for practice and competition, showing every child and young person that they can be winners regardless of their level of ability. Our Extra Special Piranhas, the ESP swim team, practice year-round so that when they go compete at Special Olympics, they are ready to win! The Special Olympics organization has grown tremendously over the past five years, and the fact that they're letting organizations like us become Special Olympics certified is a really cool thing.

5.) How can students or members of the community get involved with your cause?

We are currently hiring summer camp counselors -- and students make great counselors, whether or not they have a history of or intentions to work with special-needs populations. Students have the enthusiasm necessary to make camp fun for our kids and young adults, who really look up to their counselors. We also have many weekend and after-school activities that are greatly enriched by the presence of dedicated volunteers.