“Courage can be contagious...

2020 2021

...and hope can take on a life of its own.”

Mariah
Mariah’s story, like all the others, is unique. Mariah was born
“typical” and lived that way for the first 9 years of her life.
Then, she was diagnosed with brain cancer. At first, her family
believed Mariah would be treated then return to her life as a
typical 9-year-old. But, her brain had a very aggressive response
to treatment, causing her to lose mobility in her limbs and
cognitive function. Mariah went from running, swimming, and
riding bikes, like all other 9-year-olds… to facing a new way of
life. Her family became a family with a child with a disability.
When COVID-19 hit, Mariah’s only form of daytime care, school,
shut down. Her mom, a teacher, had to figure out how to
balance work while caring for Mariah every hour of the day. For
the first time, they began to face financial hardships and did not
know what the next day would bring. Mariah’s family lost hope
and found themselves needing more support than ever. Then,
ESP called.
ESP exists to create transformative experiences for people with disabilities
and their families. We rely on in-person interaction to serve our families:
afterschool programs, a large summer camp, family events, and more. At the
onset of COVID-19, like all businesses and organizations, our mission was
challenged. But, this taught us that ESP is not just a place, a building or these
programs. It is a safe haven for every family with a child with a disability.
With courage, ESP took on added services, knowing that not just Mariah’s
family, but hundreds, needed our help.

This courage led to Mariah wheeling into six weeks of camp this summer
despite COVID-19. At the end of the summer, her mom shared,
“Mariah said to me one day, pulling out to go home, “Mom, I hate what
has happened to me. I wish I could walk or use my hands… but, I
am SO glad that I get to come to ESP. It’s the best thing that ever
happened to me!” I had to look away with tears in my eyes. ESP allows
Mariah to have joy in her life again without focusing on her situation. The
feeling of being able to drop my child off and feel completely at peace that
she will be cared for is priceless. Even more priceless is that she is LOVED.
My joy bucket and hers are both full from the love poured out this summer.”
- Jennifer, Mariah’s Mom

There are thousands more Mariah’s throughout Georgia and the

US… and ESP is more essential to these families than ever.
Mission
ESP exists
to create
transformative
experiences
for people
with
disabilities and
their families.

Vision
ESP envisions a world where every person, of
every ability, in every community has universal
access to transformative experiences.
 How We Fulfill Our Mission

ESP’s building ESP opens new

opens with 14,000 sq. ft.

now
4 weeks of facility next
summer day door to original
1986 camp. 2005 gym. 2020

Noticing a lack of
opportunities for
1992 Martha passes away
leaving the growing
2016 Even through
COVID, ESP serves
kids with disabilities, organization to 600 families from
Martha Wyllie founds 19-year-old Laura more than 30
ESP with 21 campers. Whitaker. counties.

Hooray welcomes
Java Joy spreads people of all abilities
360 sparks unmatched joy and their families to
connection through through moments of a place of belonging
wrap-around engagement: where they experience
programs: • a mobile coffee cart boundless adventure:
• summer camp • employment for • universally accessible
• year-round family adults overnight camp
support • education and • respite center
• weekly afternoon engagement between • recreation space
enrichment people of all abilities • ESP’s future

ESP never turns a child away. We provide wrap-

around programs to individuals of all ages and
abilities across Georgia and beyond.
 “If you’re brave enough to start...

Spring COVID-19 Response:

After calling over 600 ESP families
asking how we could support them,
what we heard prompted:
• 10,600 meal deliveries
• $80,000 in financial
assistance
• 200 hours of safe daytime
respite care
• 75 hours of virtual
programming
• and so much more!

“We personally could not have made it past these few weeks
without the things ESP has provided for us! Meals, calls, smiles,
respite and just telling us that it’s gonna be ok!” - Donna, ESP Mom

Summer Camp:
Then it came time to make a decision about our staple program, summer
camp. We weighed the risk of moving forward with camp and the risk to
our families of not having this essential care. We chose to move forward
in courage, making possible:

6 39,640 18,000 269 $90,000

safely- lunches hours of campers in camp
limited donated care served this scholarships
camp sites provided summer
 KG
“Kids can do everything at camp that typical kids
do! It just takes a lot of dedicated, passionate,
and compassionate staff and volunteers. It is
taking extra dedication this year when, even
on blazing hot days, the staff and buddies
have to wear masks. I thought the name of the
organization “Extra Special People” referred to
the kids, but now I’m thinking maybe it refers to
the staff and volunteers?!” - Debbie, KG’s mom

...you’re strong enough to finish.”

 Ruth
“I am writing to thank you from the bottom of
my heart for having the courage to keep ESP
open this summer. In the midst of all the world
is experiencing, ESP has been an oasis for Ruth.
During a pandemic, nothing else could have
made my daughter’s life happy. I am a single
mother and without a family in this country, I’ve
had panic attacks about the pandemic. This is
why I am so grateful to you and ESP for giving
Ruthie joy.” - Erica, Ruth’s Mom
 An Increased Need for Family Support

This is only the beginning. Families of children with disabilities face

increased burdens daily. ESP is called to deepen the ways we support
our families who need it most.

Over the next year, ESP is committed to providing:

Fulfill 3x the number of

1 Needs Based
Scholarships
needs-based scholarship
requests

Care for our families’

2 Day Time Respite children while school
remains virtual

Implement a daily virtual

3 Virtual Programs afternoon class for kids
across the country

Feed families who are

4 Food Support facing continued food
insecurity

5 Counseling
Connect families to
counseling services

Even in these hard times, ESP has not to sacrificed support

for families of children with disabilities.
For many, ESP is their only hope.
The Cost of Increased Support
Providing additional family services will require more support
than ever before and a significant increase in our annual budget.

Organizational Budget:
360
Summer Camp $525,000
Afternoon Enrichment $125,000
Year-Round Family Suppot $175,000
Increased Family Support Services $200,000
Free counseling services $1,500
Fall and Winter family events $4,800
Monthly family dinners and meal deliveries $2,700
Free transportation $4,500
Family Christmas assistance $1,500
Continued emergency response $80,000
Needs-based scholarships for afternoon &
$105,000
camp program costs
Java Joy

Employment & Community Engagement $250,000

Hooray
Family Programs & Future Property $175,000

Total $1,450,000
 Create Hope for Families Like Mariah’s
Just as ESP is the only option for many of our families, your
support is our only option in providing the increased support
our families desperately need. An investment in our growing
mission can provide:
• Scholarships • Meals for families
• Transportation • Counseling resources
• Respite • and more.

With your help, we believe we can do so much more for the hundreds
of families with children with disabilities in our community.

Make a long-term investment:

Learn about Lifespan Giving Circle

at espyouandme.org/lifespan
“There is no greater gift than
being loved! ESP is a place
where my whole family can
be ourselves and be loved for
exactly who we are.”
- ESP Mom

espyouandme.org • (706) 769-9333

189 VFW Drive, Watkinsville, GA, 30677