For More Information, Contact:

Katarina Christmann, (706)769-9333

katarina@espyouandme.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nonprofit Extra Special People named only Georgia finalist for Chick-fil-A True Inspiration
Award
Chick-fil-A Foundation Honors Athens Nonprofit for Innovation, Leader Development and
Entrepreneurship

ATHENS, Ga.—September 6, 2019— Local nonprofit Extra Special People was recently named as a
finalist for the 2020 Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Award—the only organization in Georgia chosen to
advance.

According to the Chick-fil-A Foundation, the award is designed to “honor and support organizations from
across the country who go above and beyond in the fields of innovative education, emerging leader
development and youth entrepreneurship.” Two recipients from each region of the United States will
receive the award based on popular vote and qualification from the Chick-fil-A Foundation.

As a finalist, ESP will compete with organizations across Alabama, Mississippi and Florida for the
Southeast award. The winner will receive $75,000 toward its mission.

If awarded the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Award, ESP plans to use the funds to spread joy across the
nation through Java Joy, a mobile coffee cart employing adults with disabilities. Java Joy travels to
businesses across the Athens-Atlanta area serving coffee, hugs and transformational joy. Java Joy
baristas, called Joyristas, meet people where they are in the community and always leave customers
smiling. With plans to take Java Joy across the nation, ESP would use the award to help fund its
expansion.

“We are truly honored and excited to be chosen as a finalist for the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Award in
the Southeast,” said Laura Whitaker, Executive Director of ESP. “It’s time to shout it from the rooftops
and get people voting! To be selected as the winner for our region would be an honor for our team
showing the tangible impact our joyristas have created in this area. Our vision is to share the Java Joy
experience with communities nationwide as we spread joy and provide meaningful employment
opportunities to individuals of all abilities. This award would be a great step toward that goal.”

Voting for the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Award begins Monday, September 9, via the Chick-fil-A app
and will be open through Monday, September 30. For more information on Java Joy’s mission to spread
joy, visit javajoy.org.

###
About Extra Special People
Extra Special People, Inc., (ESP), a 501 (c)(3) is a nonprofit serving families and children with special needs in the
26-county area surrounding Watkinsville, Ga., since 1987. With ever-expanding after-school programs, weekend
clubs, an eight-week long summer camp and family resources, ESP now reaches more than 425 children, with an
ongoing dream of reaching every Northeast Georgia family that has a need and a desire to help their special child
grow and thrive.
Contributing to this dream was the addition of 70 acres in Jackson County in December 2014. Camp Hooray will
one day continue the ESP mission by hosting overnight camps, weekend retreats and events for children and
families of all abilities.