Podcast: Download
Mike Sammond, Sal Capriola, Lisa Brown, John Warde, Brandon Keever
Sal Capriola/Courtyard by Marriott Mall of Georgia
The Courtyard by Marriott Mall of Georgia hotel is the top choice for a refreshing stay. After a day of shopping at the nearby Mall of Georgia, watching the all new Gwinnett Braves play ball, or recreation at nearby Lake Lanier, come relax at their hotel in Buford, a suburb of Atlanta. This Marriott hotel in Buford introduces their new lobby featuring inviting, flexible spaces to work or relax in, free Wi-Fi, and easy access to the latest news, weather and airport conditions via their GoBoard. The highlight of the new lobby experience is The Bistro which provides guests with healthy food and beverage options in the morning and evening dinner service with cocktails. They offer a well equipped fitness center, indoor pool and whirlpool. A 24-hour business center and boarding pass printing service is also available. Enjoy a walk, jog or bike ride on their jogging/biking trail right behind the hotel. You will love the Marriott hotel.
John Warde & Lisa Brown/Exceptional Kids Athletics
Exceptional Kids Athletics, a nonprofit 501C3 company, is a special needs athletic program in Gwinnett County, GA. Their program is specifically designed to meet the needs of children aged 4-18 with physical and/or cognitive disabilities. The program is geared toward athlete development rather than competition. They currently offer soccer. Their staff consists of soccer coaches (former soccer professionals, current soccer coaches and other types of coaches) who will educate the athlete about soccer. There will be adult volunteers who either work specifically with the special needs population (OT, PT, ST, Special Education Teachers and Paraprofessionals) or other parents of special need children, all who receive training on how to interact with different disabilities. Parents are be able to sit in the stands and enjoy the game. The athlete will also be assigned a soccer “buddy” if requested by the parent or at the discretion of the special needs staff. This will be a student volunteer whose only job will be to work with the athlete on the field under the direction of the coaching staff and the Special Education staff, again so that the parent can enjoy the game.
