1 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody, it's Bill Courtney with an army of normal folks. 2 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: And we continue with part two of our conversation with 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: Stacy Horst. Right after these brief messages from our generous sponsors, 4 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: let's talk about those kids. Sixty one percent of kids 5 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: with level one autism fall subject of bullying and social isolation. 6 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: Sixty six three out of five kids that are already 7 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: struggling with having autism are bullied and subject social isolation, 8 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: with depression rates and suicidal thoughts fifty percent higher, and 9 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: children with level one autism than the general population, meaning 10 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: that there's a large number of kids with autism trying 11 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: to mainstream and get through life, handling their difficulties and 12 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: their families along with them. And there's a bunch of 13 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: those kids that are having suicidal thoughts because they're so 14 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: sad and so isolated as a result of the people 15 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: around them bullying. 16 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 2: Them one out of ten as a has suicidal tendencies 17 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 2: one out of ten. Then you know, in Tennessee, Florida, 18 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 2: right now, there's diagnosed roughly four hundred and thirty five 19 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 2: thousand autistic adults, and that can be an eighteen year old. 20 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 2: So if Tennessee has one hundred and forty five thousand. 21 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: Okay, so if you're in Florida, you said four thirty 22 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: five yep, ten percent. That means there's forty three thousand 23 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: suicidal autistic people in the state of Florida right now. 24 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 1: That's what the mouth said. 25 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, well that's I mean, they have suicidal thoughts. 26 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 2: And I think in level one when we go back 27 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 2: to what you were talking about before, in terms of 28 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 2: level one, two and three. And I am not a 29 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 2: psychologist or a psychiatrist, I don't play one on TV. 30 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:26,920 Speaker 2: I you know, level one. They're more aware of what's 31 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 2: going on around them, I believe, and they're more aware of. 32 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 1: The isolation, which makes them probably more susceptible to suicidal 33 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:42,959 Speaker 1: tendencies because much like my brother in law Ben, they're 34 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: high enough functioning they see it. So honestly, if you're 35 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: sitting here listening to us, should I befoid even get 36 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: to the there is redemption coming everybody. It's not. That's 37 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 1: all ball listening to this day. But if you didn't 38 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: tear up here in the story so far, something's wrong 39 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: with you. This should be a call. There should be 40 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: a call to parents, if you have kids and you're 41 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: blessed with happy, healthy, completely functional, normal kids without a 42 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: whole bunch of stuff. For goodness sakes, talk to them. 43 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: Explain to him that sometimes there are people around you 44 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 1: that aren't just like you, but they are most deserving 45 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: of our grace and our understanding. Talk to your kids, 46 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: because we could fix a lot of this if just 47 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 1: parents would have kids have a more understanding, graceful heart 48 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: about people around them that may look or act a 49 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: little differently. 50 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: Amen. 51 00:03:54,480 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 1: So that's one. Number two is Aaron's story is the 52 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: one we are learning about no today. But the data 53 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: shows that Aaron's story is not at all a one off. 54 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 1: And unfortunately, Aaron's story also puts a light on the 55 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: fact that there are a lot of people who are 56 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: probably quietly and maybe very maybe even unknown, having suicidal 57 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: thoughts as a result of their isolation, they're bullying and 58 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 1: the way people around them treat them. Absolutely, they're not 59 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: creating they're not thinking of committing suicide because of the autism. 60 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: They're thinking creating suicide because of how people treat them, 61 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 1: because they have something that they didn't ask for and 62 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: that they're trying to deal with in their life, which 63 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 1: if you think about the depth of that is heartbreaking. 64 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: It's very heartbreaking, and a lot of them choose to 65 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 2: be isolated because that's the only anyway they can be, 66 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,919 Speaker 2: which I think is wrong too, because so many of 67 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 2: them they're persons. Some of the friends that Aaron did 68 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 2: have every year on the anniversary of her death, they 69 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 2: reach out and which you know, I think is beautiful, 70 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 2: and they are all on the spectrum. And even this 71 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 2: year in January, one of them she said, I just 72 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 2: choose to be by myself. 73 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: Because at least when she's by herself, she doesn't get. 74 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 2: Rid of killed, yes, and she knows what to expect. 75 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:36,040 Speaker 1: Right. 76 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 2: Well, we're all creatures of habit in our lives and 77 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 2: want normalacy and schedule. And it's kind of like knowing 78 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 2: when you come into work most of the time, you 79 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 2: know what's going to happen today. You know there's going 80 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:55,919 Speaker 2: to be something different here and there, but not on 81 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 2: a major scale. So we all have of you know, 82 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 2: the ability to go through life and it's just going 83 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 2: to be kind of going along except for the bumps 84 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 2: in the road, where I think they sometimes isolate themselves 85 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 2: because they don't they don't want to have to deal 86 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 2: with more bumps than we have. Because if you put 87 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 2: yourself out there and you get shot down, you put 88 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 2: yourself out there and nobody pays attention to you. You 89 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 2: put yourself out there, nobody talks to you. Then why 90 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 2: do it? 91 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: Well? And imagine. 92 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 2: And there's a great there's a great lesson when we 93 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 2: get to the other part, the redemption part. 94 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: We're getting there now. 95 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 2: There are great lessons and all of that. 96 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: So back to that fourth day you are and I 97 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 1: interrupted you because I just had this visceral reaction to 98 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 1: I'd honestly do not know how you got through that. 99 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: But on that day you side to be a rock. 100 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: Tell me what that being a rock looks like and 101 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: what you decided and what that was. 102 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 2: Well, I can tell you one thing that without our faith, 103 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 2: this wouldn't have happened. There's no way couples who lose 104 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 2: a child one in four get divorced and very quickly 105 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 2: because of the trauma and everything else. We just we 106 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 2: sat down on the floor again and realized that there 107 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 2: has to be something that we can do to bring 108 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: these kids out of isolation, to be able to have 109 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 2: a place that they can go on the weekends when 110 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 2: they're being isolated from the rest of the world, to 111 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 2: have fun, to go be who they are, whether you 112 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 2: know that's sitting there for three months, which we had 113 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 2: one one gentleman, do you know, And so it kind 114 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 2: of it started from there, and we thought about somewhere 115 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 2: fun like Dave and Busters, where you can go and 116 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 2: just play games, just be no therapy, absolutely none, somewhere 117 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 2: where there are no parents because oh yeah, because as 118 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 2: parents and those people who are listening and you parent 119 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 2: of an autistic child, you or a child with special needs, 120 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 2: as they're growing up, you continue to try and help 121 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:57,959 Speaker 2: them and part of that helping is correction. And we 122 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 2: didn't want this to have anything to do with that. 123 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 2: It's just a place where they can come hang out, 124 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 2: no parents, nobody correcting themal yeah, absolutely, little kid. Yeah. 125 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 2: And one of the lessons that we learned in that is, 126 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 2: you know, as a parent, you take your kids to 127 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 2: all these things ptot, social skills groups, you name it whatever. 128 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 2: In the last eight years, nine years, we've learned that. 129 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 2: And this is my analogy, so nobody throw rocks at me. 130 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 2: But anyway, I call our members our square pegs, and 131 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:49,319 Speaker 2: you know, it's like you take your kids to all 132 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 2: this type of therapy, trying to take a square peg 133 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 2: and fit it in a round hole to make them 134 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 2: normal so that they can be out in the world 135 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 2: with what we call normal or neurotypical individuals, when really 136 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 2: all they've ever needed this whole time is to be 137 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 2: with each other. They all they don't care about their quirks. 138 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 2: They don't care. We have thirty two kids with one 139 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 2: staff around bert well two staff members now and eight volunteers, 140 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 2: and they can flit around the room. They can do 141 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 2: whatever they want and nobody cares. 142 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 1: And they have a ball and if they don't look 143 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,239 Speaker 1: somebody in the eyes will hell, everybody there understands. 144 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 2: Why Yep, it's okay, it's okay. 145 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: I get you. 146 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So we so we decided to create 147 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 2: a five O, one C three. We didn't know what 148 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 2: that would look like, and we came up with the 149 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 2: tied Aaron's Hope for Friends because she always hoped for 150 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 2: a good friend. And as my husband has said, if 151 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 2: Aaron had had one good friend, she'd probably still be here. 152 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,559 Speaker 1: And so you called it Aaron's Hope for Friends Foundation, 153 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: so that her memory, at least and her legacy would 154 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 1: be that people like her would have that one friend 155 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 1: or more. 156 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 2: Or more and date so and go to prom We'll 157 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 2: be right back. The mission is to create lasting relationships 158 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 2: through joyful interaction. So it's to allow these teens and 159 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 2: now young adults. We are now moving into adults. We're 160 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 2: also potentially looking at some point maybe doing younger kids. 161 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 2: But we just wanted that place where they could come 162 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 2: together and they could feel safe and they could hang 163 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:17,959 Speaker 2: out with each other. So we created E's Club e 164 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 2: Apostrophe s Club that's what the names of the clubs are. 165 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:26,199 Speaker 2: And it is like a mini Dave and Busters. Do 166 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 2: you walk in? It has ping pong, air hockey, pool tables, 167 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 2: ski ball, video gaming and art section. Peah, Oh yeah, 168 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:38,359 Speaker 2: most definitely. 169 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, so you went out and so you actually 170 00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: built E's Club. Is actually not a group of people, 171 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:47,839 Speaker 1: it is. 172 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 2: A physical place. 173 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: So tell me about So the first. 174 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 2: Year we started the five O one C three, we 175 00:12:56,160 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 2: had our first fundraiser. She passed away in January. We 176 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:07,200 Speaker 2: had our first fundraiser June twenty eighth because that was 177 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 2: her birthday. Wow, and so we said it was her 178 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 2: birthday party and we gosh, I'm trying to remember how 179 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 2: much money we raised. I mean at that point in time, 180 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 2: which was twenty fifteen, it roughly cost us about seventy 181 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 2: to eighty thousand dollars to open the physical space. So 182 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 2: it is an actual physical open space with everything that 183 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 2: I just talked about in more. And then we just 184 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 2: continued every year with as we do now, with a 185 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 2: fund you know, a big fundraiser a gallo, which we 186 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 2: just had, and we do other fundraisers throughout the year, 187 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 2: and grants and everything else to our goal was to 188 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 2: be in every state in the United States by twenty 189 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:09,679 Speaker 2: twenty five, but unfortunately covidload that. Oh well it's loaded down. 190 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 2: It like squashed it a little bit. 191 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: So does exists in Georgia, Yes, it exists. 192 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 2: So the first club was in Alpharetta, Georgia. Then we 193 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 2: opened the second club in Ackworth, Georgia. So we had 194 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 2: two clubs and we had four other states that we 195 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 2: were in contact with that they were interested individuals who 196 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 2: wanted to open eas club in those other four states. 197 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 2: And then COVID came and we couldn't meet in person 198 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 2: any longer, so we ended up. We do not own 199 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 2: these properties. We lease them the build out and everything 200 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 2: that's in it. Well, the first one was very grad roots, 201 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:05,239 Speaker 2: as you can imagine, but we try to get everything donated, 202 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 2: even the buildouts, as much as we can so we 203 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 2: can use the monies that we raise for programming. And 204 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 2: we ended up having to close both of those because 205 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 2: we couldn't meet in person. 206 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 1: But before COVID you went from twenty six kids to 207 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: two years later, three hundred and seventy kids. 208 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 2: Up to this point, we've helped fifteen hundred children, teens, 209 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 2: young adults. We have both I want. 210 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: To share three quotes which speaks to the fifteen hundred 211 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: people you've helped. A dad about his son. He doesn't 212 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: feel pressure, He's not afraid to say something that someone 213 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: is going to make fun of him. For another dad, 214 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: my daughter always said, I just wish other kids were 215 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: like me. Now she has that, she's surrounded by other 216 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 1: kids like her. It means the world to her. She 217 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: wouldn't miss it for anything in the world. A kid 218 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 1: a teen, I feel a little bit more open here 219 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 1: than I am at school. It's easier to interact with 220 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: people who are similar to me than to force being 221 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 1: normal around others. I'm just glad I can hang out 222 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: with other people on the spectrum understand me better than 223 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 1: all the kids at my school day. 224 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 2: Yep, that's it right, that's it in a nutshell, in 225 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 2: a nutshell, yeah, No, it's at our galla. We had 226 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 2: a young adult. She got up and spoke about her 227 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 2: experience in the young adult program. And it's not just 228 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 2: when I talked before about those AHAs and those lessons 229 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:55,600 Speaker 2: that we've learned. This isn't just about EA's Club, because 230 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 2: when we had to shut those doors within a month, 231 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 2: we went virtual. We still have virtual today and we 232 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:09,400 Speaker 2: have teens and young adults from around the country and 233 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:13,640 Speaker 2: Canada who are part of the virtual program now, which 234 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:16,280 Speaker 2: we're not going to get away. That's not going to 235 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 2: go away now that we're back in person. But at 236 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 2: the event, this young lady talked and her dad came 237 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:30,960 Speaker 2: up to me afterwards with just tears rolling down his face, 238 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 2: and he came up to me, he hugged me, and 239 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 2: he says, you don't know how much you've helped me, 240 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 2: and you've helped my family, and that makes it. That's it, 241 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 2: that's everything, And it's not just a fifteen hundred. It's 242 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 2: a respite for the parents. The parents can drop their 243 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 2: kids off and have three hours to themselves, to go 244 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,680 Speaker 2: to dinner, to go to a movie, to just sit, 245 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 2: to spend time with the other kids who like my family, 246 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 2: I had a neurotypical daughter and I had Aaron who 247 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,719 Speaker 2: was on the spectrum. What it would have been like 248 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 2: for Aaron to be able to go and hang out 249 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 2: and make friends with other kids and we could spend 250 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:22,399 Speaker 2: time with Rachel by yourself. The other lesson is is 251 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 2: that we have we use National Charity League and Young 252 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:29,919 Speaker 2: Men's Service League for our volunteer base, not solely, but 253 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 2: they are the largest majority, and the it's moms and 254 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 2: daughters and moms and sons. And when they walk in 255 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:41,800 Speaker 2: the door and you think about you were asking about 256 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:45,240 Speaker 2: you know, level one to level three, and they hear, oh, 257 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 2: I'm going to a club to work with autistic teens 258 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:51,400 Speaker 2: and young adults. Well, most people the first place they 259 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 2: go is three. So you know they're thinking, well, are 260 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 2: they going to be non verbal? Like how do I 261 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 2: talk to them? You know they going to get upset, 262 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:03,680 Speaker 2: what are they going to do? And they come in 263 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 2: like deer in the headlights. They have to be there 264 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 2: thirty minutes prior and we just kind of tell them, 265 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:12,360 Speaker 2: you know, we just want you to engage everybody. If 266 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 2: you see somebody sitting by themselves, ask them if they 267 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:18,479 Speaker 2: want to play pool or you know whatever. By the 268 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 2: time they leave, they come up to us and they're like, 269 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,879 Speaker 2: oh my gosh, I've had this is the most fun 270 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:29,639 Speaker 2: I've ever had. Do you know Antonio he is hystericle, 271 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 2: you know, I mean, they just they have a blast. 272 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:39,959 Speaker 2: And it's so it's become an educational experience for those 273 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 2: folks who come in as volunteers because now they see 274 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 2: our kids in a different. 275 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 1: Way, normal folks that were just like you before you 276 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 1: had an autistic kid. 277 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 2: Yes, but they walk away with an appreciation of who 278 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:54,359 Speaker 2: these kids are. 279 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: So you got the virtual and you reopened. Where is 280 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 1: this thing? Now? Where are we now? 281 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:06,640 Speaker 2: Right now? We opened our club in Woodstock, Georgia, So 282 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 2: we have an East club in Woodstock, Georgia. In November eleventh, 283 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 2: we'll be opening our first charter in Lexington, Kentucky. That's 284 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 2: where Aaron was born, so it's really that's special. But 285 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 2: you know, our goal right now is to have ten 286 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,160 Speaker 2: clubs open by twenty twenty six. 287 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: And you have two we have to and a Virtual 288 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:36,120 Speaker 1: and Virtual. How many people are served by virtual and 289 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 1: how many will be served by these two clubs? 290 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 2: About about well, you can have so Virtual is once 291 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:48,360 Speaker 2: a week. Teens are Friday and Saturday nights. Young adults 292 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:52,400 Speaker 2: right now are Sunday nights. Eventually we will fill out 293 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 2: the programming through the week with other things that there 294 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 2: are so many needs now that we've realized for all 295 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:07,920 Speaker 2: of them, adults and teens that I mean, even how 296 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:12,919 Speaker 2: to ask somebody out on a date. How oh yeah, No, 297 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 2: We've had kids go to prom together. I mean, it's 298 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 2: just I can't the stories I could tell, we'll tell them, 299 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 2: they're just I mean, it's just so great. Well, Antonio, 300 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:28,359 Speaker 2: who was funny. We had a sixteen year old girl 301 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,360 Speaker 2: who would come and volunteer, and she went to high 302 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 2: school with Antonio. And the one thing that just melted 303 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:37,879 Speaker 2: my heart is she said, when I see Antonio in 304 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,400 Speaker 2: the hallway, I always stop and talk to him. He's 305 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 2: the funniest guy I've ever met. Well, let me tell you, 306 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:46,679 Speaker 2: there aren't a lot of neurotypical kids who are going 307 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:50,639 Speaker 2: to stop in the hallway in high school. Out of 308 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 2: twenty five hundred kids in a public high school, and 309 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 2: talk to a kid on the spectrum. But the reason 310 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:01,199 Speaker 2: she did that was because because she came and she 311 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:06,919 Speaker 2: saw and she saw how real and fun and bright. 312 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:10,199 Speaker 2: I mean one of the kids that we had, he 313 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:13,679 Speaker 2: was ranked one hundred and eighty first in chess in 314 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:16,880 Speaker 2: the United States. Wow, and my husband tried to play 315 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:18,360 Speaker 2: him multiple times. 316 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: Didn't smoked. We'll be right back, we returned. When I 317 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:42,120 Speaker 1: asked Stacy about how many folks come to East Clubs. 318 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 2: Well, I mean it depends on their programming. So if 319 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 2: you have sixty four, you can have thirty two kids 320 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:50,600 Speaker 2: per night. 321 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: So that's sixty sixty. 322 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:56,239 Speaker 2: Four on a weekend. That's just for teens, right, that 323 00:22:56,280 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 2: doesn't include young adults. And we're open forty eight weeks 324 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 2: out of the year. And then don't ask me to 325 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:10,160 Speaker 2: do that math virtual virtual right now, roughly about twenty 326 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:15,640 Speaker 2: per night, And don't forget that the parents are being served. 327 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:21,199 Speaker 2: And I've when I've met parents, they've come up to 328 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:24,880 Speaker 2: me and told me about their children being suicidal and 329 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 2: or attempting to take their life. And now they're still here. No, 330 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 2: and as a result of this that it's helped because 331 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,160 Speaker 2: they've found a place that's safe they've found a place 332 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 2: that they can go be themselves to the quotes that 333 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 2: you stated, and not have to worry about being bullied 334 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 2: or made fun of. And everyone accepts each other. And 335 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 2: that's that square peg in the round hole that I 336 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 2: was talking about we really didn't need, which breaks my 337 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 2: heart as a mom to try and force that square 338 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,919 Speaker 2: peg in a round hole where really all the square 339 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:13,880 Speaker 2: pegs just need to come together and have fun. And 340 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:17,280 Speaker 2: these kids end up calling each other outside of the club. 341 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:20,200 Speaker 2: They end up meeting each other and doing things. 342 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: What kids do. Yeah, exactly, because I have a safe 343 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:24,439 Speaker 1: place to do it. 344 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:27,920 Speaker 2: Yeah. But they meet each other in that safe place, 345 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 2: and then it grows from there. The friendship grows, which 346 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 2: is our mission and that it can be a lasting friendship. 347 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:40,679 Speaker 2: We just had two people who met on virtual and 348 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:43,640 Speaker 2: forgive me, I don't remember where everybody lives. Oh well, 349 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:49,479 Speaker 2: the one in Canada and another one in Pennsylvania. I 350 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 2: think the parents got together and the one was going 351 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 2: on vacation and the parents brought them together so they 352 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:02,120 Speaker 2: could meet in person and they got to hang out. 353 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 2: How cool is that? 354 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 1: That is very cool? 355 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:06,719 Speaker 2: So cool? 356 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 1: I can't quit thinking what Darren said that if Aaron 357 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 1: had one of these interactions, she'd be with you today. 358 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:20,359 Speaker 1: And you are literally saving lives in Aaron's memory, which, 359 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 1: in the coolest sense is probably her legacy. 360 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:26,240 Speaker 2: I hope, So we hope. 361 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:29,240 Speaker 1: So that's phenomenal. 362 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:32,400 Speaker 2: We want this to be on the same level as 363 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:36,920 Speaker 2: the Boys and Girls Club. We want that legacy because 364 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 2: of all these kids in the United States, all these 365 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 2: young adults, adults. I mean, there's so many needs that 366 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 2: we can continue to talk about beyond what we've already found, 367 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 2: which we're going to work on. But this can be 368 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 2: a space that's open seven days a week for all 369 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 2: different types of things to help all these individuals feel complete, 370 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:12,000 Speaker 2: feel whole, whole, safe, yes, and productive. 371 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 1: So you said earlier, by twenty twenty six you plan 372 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 1: on having ten e clubs clubs, yeah, rightes, yes, and 373 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: and you want to go you want to be as 374 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 1: big as the Boys and Girls Club. 375 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 2: That's our goal. 376 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 1: That would be one in every city. Yes, So how 377 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 1: do you get there? 378 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 2: That's a good question. Who's out there that can help me? 379 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:44,600 Speaker 2: That's what I want to know, which is that's a 380 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 2: good question. 381 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:51,760 Speaker 1: Which is exactly what you emailed me, which was now 382 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 1: I can tell everybody you ill me. Hey, this is 383 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:57,639 Speaker 1: what it was so quick and to the point. I 384 00:26:57,720 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 1: love an army and normal folks. I love what you 385 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 1: or sharing. I love the stories. My daughter had autism 386 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:09,880 Speaker 1: and took her life, and this is what we've done 387 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:14,280 Speaker 1: because of that. You sent me a link and we 388 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:17,920 Speaker 1: just want to get the world out to create more 389 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,960 Speaker 1: of these places for kids all over the country. It's 390 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 1: what you said to me in your email. I don't 391 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 1: know if you remember, but I read it today. Yeah, 392 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: what do you need? It sounds like you need people. 393 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:32,359 Speaker 1: It sounds like you need families that are struggling with 394 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:34,720 Speaker 1: the same things you guys were struggling with with a 395 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:39,600 Speaker 1: child with autism, and you need them to call you 396 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:41,720 Speaker 1: and learn how it's done and get involved. 397 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:46,920 Speaker 2: Absolutely, it'll roughly to get to ten by ten, ten 398 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 2: by twenty twenty six. I mean it's probably about two 399 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,680 Speaker 2: and a half million dollars. It takes us roughly about 400 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 2: one hundred to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to 401 00:27:57,160 --> 00:28:00,160 Speaker 2: run a club for a year, and that's including stiff 402 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:06,680 Speaker 2: So it's it's daunting, but we'll do it. 403 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:09,399 Speaker 1: You know, it's a lot, but it's actually not a lot. 404 00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:13,159 Speaker 1: I mean it's a lot of money. But with all 405 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:16,639 Speaker 1: of the riches available to people in this world looking 406 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:20,520 Speaker 1: for good quality things to do that actually do change 407 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:26,159 Speaker 1: and save lives, I've got to believe there's people hearing 408 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:28,440 Speaker 1: this right now that are like, oh yeah, I want 409 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 1: to do that, or I have an autism person in 410 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:37,639 Speaker 1: my family, or I know somebody that does. And what 411 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,880 Speaker 1: an amazing mission that you And and I mean you're 412 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 1: still right, You're you're working, right, You've got a life. 413 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:46,200 Speaker 2: Oh yeah yeah, still working. 414 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 1: Still working in still work, doing your thing. So the 415 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:53,160 Speaker 1: other part to this is beyond the ten thousand. Exactly 416 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 1: what you said was think of all of the families 417 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 1: and all of the rachels who are being po affected 418 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 1: by this too. I mean, this thing just has tentacles 419 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 1: that are far reaching to every community that it's in. 420 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 2: Oh absolutely, I mean just the families, just like the 421 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 2: dad who came up to me two weeks ago in tears. 422 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,320 Speaker 2: You know, it's helped them because it helped their child, 423 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 2: therefore it helped the family. I mean, it is a 424 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:25,320 Speaker 2: trickle effect. 425 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 1: Well, I think also maybe it can serve to be 426 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 1: a conduit to for their education, to people who don't 427 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 1: deal with autism and their family and their childs to 428 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 1: just understand that this is a very real thing and 429 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: it's not trivial and it shouldn't be made fun of. 430 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:47,000 Speaker 1: And as parents, we have a responsibility to teach our 431 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:47,800 Speaker 1: children better. 432 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:53,480 Speaker 2: Absolutely we do. I agree, And that's why I love 433 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:59,719 Speaker 2: that we bring the volunteer base in who gets that 434 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 2: education in person and get you how see these kids 435 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:07,120 Speaker 2: and how funny and smart and I mean, it's just 436 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 2: there's there's so Like you said, I love the Octopus 437 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:15,960 Speaker 2: and the tentacles because that's we we created. The head 438 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:19,200 Speaker 2: of the octopus and the tentacles are just coming out. 439 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:22,360 Speaker 2: And the things that we're learning and the things that 440 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:26,880 Speaker 2: we can do through Aaron's Hope and through Ease Club, 441 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 2: and the number of people that we can reach not 442 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:37,040 Speaker 2: only the autistic kids but beyond is it's unlimited because 443 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:38,480 Speaker 2: we learn something new every day. 444 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:43,760 Speaker 1: Aaron's Hope for Friends Foundation, anybody who's listened that wants 445 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 1: to be involved or who is struck by this and says, 446 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:50,760 Speaker 1: this is something I want to do and can do. 447 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:53,880 Speaker 1: Who do they call? How do they do it? 448 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:55,200 Speaker 2: They can call me? 449 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:57,760 Speaker 1: How does that work? Do they call you? Email you 450 00:30:57,840 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 1: how to get me. 451 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:01,320 Speaker 2: They can call me at six seven eight seven three 452 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:06,280 Speaker 2: nine nine nine nine nine. They can email me at 453 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:11,120 Speaker 2: Stacyhorst at kW dot com. S T A C Y 454 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:16,800 Speaker 2: h O R s T at k W dot com. 455 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 2: You can reach out to our website, which is Aaron's 456 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:24,440 Speaker 2: Hope for Friends dot org. There's a contact page you 457 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:27,720 Speaker 2: can fill that out. You can also send an email 458 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:31,360 Speaker 2: to info at Aaron's Hope for Friends dot org. 459 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:34,680 Speaker 1: If there's ever a calling for an army of normal 460 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:38,880 Speaker 1: folks to get involved, this is it, because that's what's 461 00:31:38,920 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 1: going to fix it. The government's not going to fix 462 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:43,360 Speaker 1: it talking about it, it's not going to fix it. 463 00:31:43,920 --> 00:31:46,280 Speaker 1: Nothing's going to fix it, but just somebody like you 464 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:56,560 Speaker 1: and Darren who said our children deserve better, and your 465 00:31:56,720 --> 00:32:04,040 Speaker 1: rock and I am just beyond and amazed by how 466 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:07,640 Speaker 1: you've taken the most traumatic thing that could have ever 467 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 1: happened to you in your life and turned it into 468 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:14,160 Speaker 1: a positive and honor of your daughter so that her 469 00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:17,080 Speaker 1: legacy lives on in a purposeful way. 470 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:18,200 Speaker 2: It is. 471 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 1: A phenomenal story of sadness and depth and redemption and hope. 472 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:37,240 Speaker 1: And you know, nobody, nobody tabbed you and said go 473 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:39,960 Speaker 1: do this. Nobody gave you a foundation, and so go 474 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:42,920 Speaker 1: do it. You're just a normal mom and a normal 475 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:49,040 Speaker 1: life raising two kids, the best you know how, who 476 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:53,640 Speaker 1: who very personally felt and saw a need as a 477 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:56,600 Speaker 1: result of some great sadness and decided to fill it. 478 00:32:56,840 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 1: And you're saving and changing lives and helping families as 479 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:05,760 Speaker 1: a result of it. And I am beyond honored to 480 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:07,400 Speaker 1: have talked to you about it, And thank you so 481 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:11,000 Speaker 1: much for sharing in depth the very personal side of 482 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:14,600 Speaker 1: the of your story so that people can really understand 483 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:20,560 Speaker 1: the importance of what you're doing. I am It's the 484 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:23,360 Speaker 1: first one I've teared up in, and I've heard some stories, 485 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:26,920 Speaker 1: And thank you for being the very first of our 486 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:32,040 Speaker 1: organic guests. So you are you, You are, you are, 487 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:34,280 Speaker 1: You will be deep in the history of an army 488 00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:38,800 Speaker 1: of normal folks forever. Thank you so much for coming 489 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:40,719 Speaker 1: to Memphis and sharing your story with us and all 490 00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:41,920 Speaker 1: the amazing work you're doing. 491 00:33:41,960 --> 00:33:44,520 Speaker 2: Stacey, Well, thank you so much for having me and 492 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:48,240 Speaker 2: what you're doing with the podcast, because it's amazing. 493 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:55,800 Speaker 1: Thanks very much, and thank you for joining us this week. 494 00:33:55,880 --> 00:33:59,200 Speaker 1: If Stacy or another guest has inspired you in general 495 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:01,880 Speaker 1: or better you have to take action by starting an 496 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:05,880 Speaker 1: ease club, or by donating to Aaron's Hope for Friends 497 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:10,120 Speaker 1: or something else entirely. Please let me know I'd love 498 00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:13,160 Speaker 1: to hear about it. You can write me anytime at 499 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:17,520 Speaker 1: Bill at Normalfolks dot us and I will respond. You 500 00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:21,640 Speaker 1: know a special note after this episode. If you heard 501 00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:24,280 Speaker 1: what you've just heard and aren't inspired to talk about 502 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:28,160 Speaker 1: any kids in your family, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and certainly 503 00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:34,200 Speaker 1: your kids, this story should certainly awaken us to the 504 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 1: desperation felt by some due to bullying and exclusion. We 505 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:46,600 Speaker 1: have responsibility, y'all. We have responsibility raise our kids with 506 00:34:46,640 --> 00:34:50,319 Speaker 1: an empathetic heart and an understanding about the dangers of 507 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:56,480 Speaker 1: bullying and the importance of inclusion. I hope you'll think 508 00:34:56,520 --> 00:35:00,640 Speaker 1: about Aaron next time you see your own children, pray 509 00:35:00,680 --> 00:35:03,240 Speaker 1: that they never have to go through what she went through, 510 00:35:03,280 --> 00:35:10,640 Speaker 1: and also take action to teach and foster a level 511 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:13,360 Speaker 1: of empathy and understanding and love in our kids' hearts. 512 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:16,640 Speaker 1: And I hope this story motivates you to at the 513 00:35:16,719 --> 00:35:20,319 Speaker 1: very least do that. If you enjoyed this episode, share 514 00:35:20,360 --> 00:35:23,080 Speaker 1: it with friends and on social subscribe to the podcast. 515 00:35:23,239 --> 00:35:26,719 Speaker 1: Rate it review, it become a premium number at normal 516 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:29,160 Speaker 1: Folks dot us. All these things that will help us 517 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:33,760 Speaker 1: grow an army of normal folks for our premium members 518 00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:37,880 Speaker 1: will have bonus content from this episode and it's actually 519 00:35:38,200 --> 00:35:41,640 Speaker 1: the hilarious story about how Stacy and her husband Darren met, 520 00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:44,000 Speaker 1: and if you don't want to miss it, become a 521 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:47,920 Speaker 1: premium member today. Lastly, I want to thank our sponsor 522 00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:51,279 Speaker 1: at Iron Light Laps. I'm Bill Courtney. I'll see you 523 00:35:51,320 --> 00:35:51,840 Speaker 1: next week.