Big Hearts Pageant a "Huge Success"

Saturday night marked the fourth annual Big Hearts Pageant for special people of northeast Georgia, held at the .  The event has been a major fundraiser for the Watkinsville-based non-profit organization Extra Special People, Inc. that provides programming and support for children and young adults with special needs.

Tickets were already sold out two weeks prior to the event, ESP Executive Director Laura Whitaker said. She was responsible for directing the pageant.

Last year, the pageant and corresponding silent auction helped raise nearly $21,000 toward the cost of summer camp for ESP, Whitaker said. 

Many of the night's participants had been in the pageant in previous years and were very excited to be a part of the pageant this year as well,  she said.

There were over 100 volunteers who helped organize and coordinate the event, including Georgia Bulldog quarterback Aaron Murray, kicker Brandon Bogotay, and strong safety Josh Murray who helped escort participants.  

Overall, the pageant was a "huge success," according to the Extra Special People Inc.'s website.