Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Without community integration programs and recreational opportunities, individuals with disabilities experience regression, heightened dependence, social exclusion, and limited social, emotional, and cognitive growth. And in a national survey of 5,000 parents, siblings, and caregivers or support providers of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the ARC reported that more than 75% of families could not find "afterschool care, non-institutional community services...summer care or respite and other services" and that "62% of families report that services are being cut in the community, limiting or eliminating access to community life and opportunities for their family member" with a disability. Just as typically developing children thrive when given adequate opportunities for cognitive, physical, and social growth and development outside of school, individuals with disabilities require these same opportunities, if not more.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
360
Through 360, ESP aims to spark connection through wrap-around programs to enrich the lives of people of all abilities and their families. This is achieved through summer camp, weekly afternoon enrichment programs, and ongoing family support. Year-round, 360 aims for ESP to be a home and safe haven for hundreds of families with children with disabilities.
Java Joy
Java Joy spreads unmatched joy through moments of engagement with people of all abilities. Through a mobile coffee cart. Java Joy provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to gain confidence in the workplace, learn job applicable skills, and advance their own abilities.
Hooray
Hooray welcomes people of all abilities and their families to a place of belonging where they experience boundless adventure. Designed to be the country’s first universally accessible overnight camp, respite center, and recreation space built from the ground up, Hooray will one day give individuals of all abilities and their families the chance to experience an accessible atmosphere.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Nonprofit of the Year 2020
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Percentage of participants who meet at least three of their recreational therapy goals
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with disabilities, Age groups
Related Program
360
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
ESP follows a recreational therapy model within all of our programs - aiming for evidence of improvement while our participants engage with ESP.
Number of participants who learned a new skill through programming
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
360
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
ESP is a Georgia-based nonprofit that began as a one-week summer program in 1986 but has grown into an organization that serves over 600 participants with disabilities from over 25 counties in Georgia and from out of state year-round. What stemmed from a desire to improve the opportunities available for children with disabilities has transformed into an inclusive, welcoming community where participants of all ages and abilities are celebrated for exactly who they are. We welcome participants with diagnoses of Down Syndrome, Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spina Bifida, and more; no one is turned away from ESP. Our goal is to fulfill our mission and provide quality experiences and interactions for people with disabilities year-round through three foundational programs: 360, Java Joy, and Hooray.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Through 360, ESP aims to spark connection through wrap-around programs to enrich the lives of people of all abilities and their families. This is achieved through summer camp, weekly afternoon enrichment programs, and ongoing family support. Year-round, 360 aims for ESP to be a home and safe haven for hundreds of families with children with disabilities. Java Joy spreads unmatched joy through moments of engagement with people of all abilities. Through a mobile coffee cart. Java Joy provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to gain confidence in the workplace, learn job applicable skills, and advance their own abilities. Finally, Hooray welcomes people of all abilities and their families to a place of belonging where they experience boundless adventure. Designed to be the country’s first universally accessible overnight camp, respite center, and recreation space built from the ground up, Hooray will one day give individuals of all abilities and their families the chance to experience an accessible atmosphere. The three ways that we fulfill our mission create the foundation of our organization to empower our participants and their families. Our vision is a world where every person, of every ability, in every community has universal access to transformative experiences.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
ESP is a community agency granted with the support and confidence of hundreds of parents, community members, donors, and more. As an agency that started from the ground up, we have built meaningful connections with various local businesses, partnering nonprofit agencies, and community leaders throughout the Athens and Oconee area and throughout Northeast Georgia. Our agency has grown with diligence over the years, and continues to responsibly and thoughtfully expand our programs due to the increased need of our region. Our Executive Director, Laura Whitaker, has lead ESP through our growth for the past 13 years, from raising $50,000 in the first months of her employment at the age of 19 to successfully managing a capital campaign to create our new building. Additionally, as our programs have grown, we have increased our staff and volunteer support to accommodate our increased opportunities, with 19 full-time staff, 12 full-time AmeriCorps national service Members, 40 part-time staff and interns, 75 seasonal summer counselors, and thousands of volunteers serving over 20,000 hours.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
For more than 20 years, ESP operated programs in a 1,600 square foot gym. This space significantly limited the scope of our services, created accessibility barriers, impacted the dignity of our participants with only two small bathroom stalls and other facility inadequacies, and created a daunting waiting list of families in need of recreational programs for their children with disabilities. In June of 2016, after a $3 million capital campaign supported by our incredible community and companies who sponsored over $900,000 of in-kind materials and services, we opened to doors to a new 14,000 square foot Activity Building right next door to our previous space. Our previous home was then renovated back to its original purpose as a gym. With both accessible program spaces, enrollment in ESP programs grew an immediate 25% and eliminated our waiting list, and we now have new participants and families becoming part of our community every day. The need to provide quality recreation programs to individuals with disabilities continues to grow, with ESP the only program of its kind in our region. The Georgia Department of Education identifies over 2,000 individuals with disabilities in the Northeast Georgia region. We continually strive to grow in our capacity to serve more of these 2,000 individuals and provide new, innovative, and accessible experiences for kids and adults of all abilities in our community to thrive.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Extra Special People, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 07/11/2023
Carter Strickland
Jon Williams
Williams & Associates
John McLean
Allied Paving Contractors
Michael Raeber
UGA Law Office
Delena Brockmann
Piedmont Athens Regional
Bryan Harris
Jackson Spalding
Philip Bernardi
Oconee State Bank
Laura Whitaker
ESP
Daniel Palawasta
Levy Restaurants
Andrew Almeida
Thoma Bravo
Ben Duetsch
Coca-Cola (Retired)
Keeca Burroughs
Ernst & Young
Bo Rutledge
UGA School of Law
Michael Ripps
Jittery Joes
Andrew Costas
Landmark Properties
Anne Marie Tison
Harrison Family Foundation
Gretchen Corbin
Georgia Lottery Corporation
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data