Find out why ESP joyristas went to London and how they met Spider-Man actor Tom Holland

It’s safe to say that thanks to a couple of “joyristas” and a guy who plays Spider-Man in the movies, Extra Special People is becoming an international brand.

The Watkinsville-based ESP, whose mission statement says it exists “to create transformative experiences for people with disabilities and their families, changing communities for the better,” has for several years been aligned with the Brothers Trust, a foundation organized by the family of actor Tom Holland, who plays Spider-Man as part of the Marvel cinematic universe.

The British-based Brothers Trust has through the years funded several salaries for ESP’s Java Joy program, which was founded eight years ago to provide employment for adults with disabilities. And when the family foundation held its second annual Posh Pub Quiz Gala earlier this month in London, they invited ESP to join the celebration.

“It was quite the adventure,” said ESP CEO Laura Whitaker, who led an eight-person contingent, including veteran joyristas Liz and Nicky, to London in early March to connect with the Brothers Trust and have, as Whitaker put it, a transformative experience for everyone involved.

Whitaker, who has been at the head of ESP for some two decades, said the trip held true to the organization’s mission by making an unforgettable getaway available to Liz and Nicky, who in turn made the Brothers Trust community better with their presence.

“The goal was for Liz and Nicky to go and say thank you, but it was also to change the perspectives of the people we interacted with and to give them a joyful experience,” said Whitaker. “Liz and Nicky both definitely understood the assignment and they were fan favorites at the gala.”

At the black-tie event, Holland was photographed visiting with both joyristas and at one point, Nicky joined Holland on stage to sing “My Heart Will Go On” from “Titanic” to raucous applause from the gathering.

More: Looking for Easter egg hunts, church services and more in the Athens area? Here's a guide.

“People could not stop talking about Nicky and his impromptu charge to the stage, with Tom putting his arms around him,” said Whitaker. “It just really created a beautiful environment of joy and authenticity for the gala. It was a really cool way to take internationally what we love in this community.”

Whitaker added that even though they’ve been back for several weeks, the memories of a once-in-a-lifetime sojourn remain.

“It was awesome,” she said. “It definitely was the highlight for the Hollands as well. They’ve emailed us many times since then, telling us how thankful they were that we made the effort to go there and what a beautiful vibe it was and how much Nicky and Liz were part of the event.

“It was really great and that’s what Java Joy is all about – it’s employment, but it’s also creating unexpected joy in the spaces and places you go.”

More: From berry picking to floral festivals, here are some Georgia can't-miss springtime spots

The overseas excursion is just one of the noteworthy happenings at ESP. The nonprofit in February held its annual talent show and gala at The Classic Center, it has expanded to establish similar programs in Marietta and Rome and made some administrative changes within the organization. Whitaker transitioned from executive director to CEO, succeeded by Craig Portwood, who joined the team in January.

“Hiring Craig has given us an opportunity to focus on our neighborhood, our community, the northeast Georgia area that is served here,” said Whitaker. “I’m very excited about what’s to come. There’s an envelope on how we can serve more families and serve them more often.

“There are about 900 families we serve in the Athens area, so space is always a challenge and funding is always a challenge, but we never turn a family away due to their inability to pay. We’re committed to that. We’re figuring out how we can continue to grow in scale but also make sure we’re doing well in our home-base community.”

For more information on ESP, visit www.espyouandme.org.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Spider-Man actor Tom Holland hosts London event attended by ESP joyristas