Brynlee Brynlee has been around esp Athens her whole life! Since last year’s Radiothon, she’s aged into programming and spends even more time with her esp friends. Each new step she’s taken, from summer camp to Miracle League games, has helped her grow in confidence,
“One of the most powerful moments on our journey with esp came during our very first esp’s By the Sea family beach trip,” Brynlee’s mom, Kim, shared. “Brynlee is mostly non-verbal, but while we were away, three amazing esp staff took her to the pool so my mom and I could make a quick Walmart run. When we got back and we were walking to our room, Brynlee saw us, smiled, and unprompted said: ‘happy.’ That single word meant everything. That’s what esp is. It’s a place where our kids can be unapologetically themselves — experiencing joy, confidence, and belonging — while being surrounded by people who love them exactly as they are.”
Finn Finn started coming to esp Athens in 2023 and he’s already packed in so much fun. From being named the People’s Choice Champion at the Big Hearts Talent Show and running the bases at Miracle League to swimming at afternoon 360 programs and overnight camp in the summer, Finn and his family have found the kind of connection, community, and care that every family deserves. Join us for Radiothon to support esp as they continue to serve Finn and hundreds of other people with disabilities and their families.
Magen “When Magen was seven weeks old, doctors did not expect her to live and, if she did, they said she wouldn’t have much functionality. Thanks to esp, she’s living her best life.”
Magen, now 22 years old, has been coming to esp for 18 years — she’s grown up with a place that always accepts her, loves her, and celebrates her. From visiting the World Congress Center for a cheer competition and slaying dragons on the Big Hearts stage to meeting football players at Bulldawgs & Buddies, playing baseball with Miracle League, or even riding the zipline at overnight camp, esp has provided Magen with countless joyful, inclusive experiences.
“At esp, Magen is treated like a princess and she loves socializing with her friends, both participants and volunteers,” her mother shared. “The love and attention Magen gets at esp allows her to thrive and experience things she wouldn’t be able to anywhere else due to her behavioral and medical needs. For Magen, esp is a favorite place. For our family, it is respite and knowing that our loved one is experiencing joy and inclusion.”
Mikey Mikey has been going to esp since 2014, when his parents first learned about esp through another family. Before esp, Mikey had never had a place outside school where he got to hang out with a group of his peers, especially where he was not only accepted, but celebrated and given the opportunity to experience the world in ways his family never imagined he would. Things like overnight camp, zip-lining, horseback-riding… his family never dreamed these things would be possible. “We quickly learned that at esp, the word ‘impossible’ doesn’t exist,” his mom, Tina, told us. “There are no words to describe the feeling we get seeing Mikey smile and his face light up when we pull into the parking lot at esp or when we see him doing all the things others take for granted — experiences he would not have gotten if not for esp.” Donate to Radiothon today to support esp as they create experiences and community for participants like Mikey and his family.
Mason Meet Mason, a fifteen year old esp Athens participant who is on the autism spectrum. Mason’s mom, Nichole, shared what esp has meant for her family:
“esp laid a foundation for our family to build upon. They understand Mason has autism but more importantly, they love and value Mason as a child of God. Over the years, they have gone the distance to bond with Mason, earn his trust and befriend him. When society tried to limit Mason or define him by his struggles, esp met him with love and community (time and time again).
I've seen first hand how important community is to a child with autism — how sometimes our children are cast out of society and become shut in, impacting the quality of life for the whole family. I've also witnessed the power of recovery through relentless love! Relentless love! That is esp: through thick and thin, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!
Christian Brynlee has been around esp Athens her whole life! Since last year’s Radiothon, she’s aged into programming and spends even more time with her esp friends. Each new step she’s taken, from summer camp to Miracle League games, has helped her grow in confidence,
“One of the most powerful moments on our journey with esp came during our very first esp’s By the Sea family beach trip,” Brynlee’s mom, Kim, shared. “Brynlee is mostly non-verbal, but while we were away, three amazing esp staff took her to the pool so my mom and I could make a quick Walmart run. When we got back and we were walking to our room, Brynlee saw us, smiled, and unprompted said: ‘happy.’ That single word meant everything. That’s what esp is. It’s a place where our kids can be unapologetically themselves — experiencing joy, confidence, and belonging — while being surrounded by people who love them exactly as they are.”
