Our History
1986
Martha Wyllie, ESP's founder, holds the first camp for people with developmental disabilities at ESP. She noticed an unequal amount of opportunities for children with disabilities, beginning ESP as one week of summer camp for only 21 participants. Programs took place in local schools, churches, jails, and community gathering spaces while Martha looked for a place for ESP to call home.
1991
ESP opens its own building on VFW Drive and starts serving participants in Watkinsville, Georgia. For two decades, ESP conducted all programming in this 1,600 square foot gym, with the number of participants growing each year.
2004
Martha Wyllie passes away, leaving behind a growing legacy and four post-it-notes with plans of ESP's future. The demand for more space grew as the gym limited the scope of our services and created accessibility barriers.
2006
Laura Hope Whitaker, previously a college volunteer, officially assumes the role of Executive Director. Read her ESP story here.
2012
ESP identified the need for wrap-around support including family support and year-round programming and created ESP 360. ESP 360 sparks connection through wrap-around programs to enrich the lives of people of all abilities and their families.
2014
In 2014, ESP was gifted a 70-acre camp property in Jackson County, Georgia with a vision for it to become the country's first universally accessible overnight camp, parent respite center, and recreation facility. As we dream about the future of our Jefferson, Georgia property, we keep the Hooray spirit alive through our yearly Hooray Camps that take place in Athens and Rome, Georgia.
2016
For two decades, ESP conducted all Athens programming in a 1,600 square-foot gym, with the number of participants growing each year. In June of 2016, after a $3 million capital campaign, ESP opened the doors to a new 14,000 square-foot Activity Building and renovated the original gym. As a result of two new spaces, ESP enrollment grew 25% immediately, allowing the abiltity to serve the hundreds of participants who now call ESP home. The same year, ESP expanded programs through the launch of Java Joy, a mobile coffee cart that employs adults with disabilities.
2020
ESP started its expansion to Atlanta and Rome, Georgia with their very first program, Java Joy, a mobile coffee cart that employs adults with developmental disabilities. Learn more about Java Joy HERE.
2022
ESP opened the Miracle League Complex in Watkinsville, Ga., an extension of the National Miracle League nonprofit. The complex includes a universally accessible baseball field and the City of Watkinsvilleu2019s Playground of Possibilities, encouraging people of all abilities to play side by side with no limitations.rnrnCome by to play at the park, or join us for a Miracle League Game! (this will link to ML page with the calendar eventually)rnrnThe ESP Miracle League Complex is home of the Golden Pantry Snack Shack that is open every Saturday in the spring to sell Chick-fil-A biscuits, hot dogs snacks, drinks and more! Come by to play at the park, or join us for a Miracle League Game!
2025+
ESP is currently located in Athens, Rome and Atlanta, Georgia, and hopes to expand to three new cities in the next three years and break ground on our Camp Hooray property in Jefferson, Georgia. Interested in bringing ESP to your city? Check out our expansion process.
WHO WE ARE
ESP — changing communities for the better!
ESP envisions a world where every person, of every ability, in every community has universal access to transformative experiences.
Mission
ESP exists to create transformative experiences for people with disabilities and their families, changing communities for the better.
Vision
ESP envisions a world where every person, of every ability, in every community has universal access to transformative experiences.
Core Values
Unrelenting in our mission • Activating the abilities of all • Crazy about celebration • Connecting the unconnected • Compassion freely given • Innovating possibilities •
Integrity. Everyday.
Where We are Going
ESP is currently located in Athens, Rome and Atlanta, Georgia, and hopes to expand to cities that fit the mission in the future. Want to bring esp to your city? We’re looking for cities like you! Check out what you need to become an ESP city below.
There is Need for an esp
You're a Champion of Volunteers
Your City has a College Connection
You Build an Engaged Donor Base
Your City is in a Centralized Location
You Have Community Commitment
Core Values
