The Exceptional Kids Organization (EKO) is a public charitable 509(a)(2) and Not-for-Profit 501(c)(3) organization incorporated by the State of California. We serve over 500 individuals with development or physical disabilities in the South Bay area by providing educational and social support our children need.
We are dedicated now more than ever to create additional opportunities for young people and to support their families by offering forums presented by professionals in areas critical to parent/guardian knowledge.
We have served the Los Angeles Special Needs community since 2000
We've hosted over 300 events since our founding
Every year we award up to $10,000 in classroom grants.
Our volunteers combine for over 1,000 hours of service annually
In 1999 our founder, Beth Muraida, determined that her son’s special education class was not served as the regular education classes were. The students weren’t attending field trips and they needed computers and classroom supplements that budgets wouldn’t cover. Beth, along with other parents, began to fundraise and eventually 13 classrooms in the South Bay of California were updated with the equipment needed.
After such success, more and more parents, teachers, and community members joined Beth in her mission which led to creation of the Imperial PTO. This gave the group the ability to plan more activities such as monthly-themed dances and a prom event at the Hacienda Hotel in El Segundo with over 100 teens and family members in attendance.
As more community members joined in support of this wonderful cause, a Board was formed in 2000, and the organization was incorporated as the EKPTO (Exceptional Kids Parent Teacher Organization) aka EKO.
Over the years the EKO has grown to support families and teachers throughout the entire Southwest Special Education Local Planning Area (SELPA) by providing teacher grants of $300, individual student scholarships and family education activities.
Vice President
Arlyn Alonzo is an EKO Board Member and a mother of a special needs adult. She has watched her son enjoy the various activities provided by EKO in a nurturing environment. Arlyn is grateful for the dedication of each of the EKO Board Members and is appreciative for the opportunity to serve the special needs population.
Co-Founder
Beth realized her son’s elementary school did not have sufficient classroom support, so she formed the Imperial PTO with the help of other parents. This organization supported teachers by raising money to provide computers, field trips, classroom support, and therapists. Beth later partnered with a wonderful transitional teacher, Tom Cash, and they developed the idea of creating social experiences for the kids out of the school setting. Beth and the Imperial PTO organized 9 dances and a prom for about 100 kids.
Through many more dances, parades, family fun days, 22 proms, parent support groups, we have had the participation of many valuable board members. Their passion, dedication, and commitment to our special community lives on with new ideas, scholarships, classroom grants, zoom dances, a prom in June, talent variety show, fundraisers. I am pleased to work with these amazing talented committed people.
Beth can’t think of anything that makes her happier than seeing the smiles on her son Adam’s face as he dances the night away at one of the fabulous EKO events.
Betty has an adult son with autism. Her experience started by volunteering at his elementary school. She later began a parent program for fundraising at Lawndale High School where parents of special needs students assisted in fundraising so the students could attend functions outside of high school, including sleep overs at the Science Center and the Aquarium of Long Beach. While her son was still in high school, she enrolled him at El Camino college where he completed college math courses at the junior college level.
Treasurer
In 2005, I met a young man who had a suite of issues, with four distinct diagnoses. Over time, this young man taught me through his behavior of the pure goodness within him – no agendas, just what you saw. Several years later, I attended an EKO dance. I couldn’t stop smiling. It was the most joy in one room I had ever seen: all the kids there seemed to be the same, with every one of them full of joy and totally accepting of every other person around them. Obviously, many knew each other and had developed close bonds. I have had many proud moments in my life, but when these young people, or their parents, come up to me and thank me for what we do, its surreal to realize what we can accomplish. I am fully dedicated to this organization and its growth and outreach.
President / Fundraising Chair
It all started almost 15 years ago with a phone call. A friend asked if I would like to volunteer to help at a Special Needs student prom. Being free that night I said yes. After seeing the pure joy on the kids faces as they partied the night away I was hooked on helping. I have been involved ever since with this wonderful organization who sponsored that evening. My wife Etta and I have been very blessed in raising three extraordinary young men, and I wanted to give back to those less fortunate. After a lengthy career in real estate in the South Bay I am newly retired, and now have even more time to help the students. With my sales background, I found that my most valuable donation to the group is in helping them with the fundraising. Over the years I have helped put on many exciting and successful benefit evenings that support our group, and am looking forward to many more.
Secretary
I am a retired special education teacher. I worked with the special needs population in the South Bay for over 13 years. Over that time I heard a lot about the dances and prom from other educators as well as parents. I was intrigued and after attending a dance I became a believer. Seeing my students so happy and enjoying themselves just hanging out with their friends like every other person their age was very special. A few years later I joined the board to help support the work they were doing. Since retiring the dances have given me the opportunity to stay in contact with many of the families I worked with over the years.
Jean is a retired art teacher and manager of museum gift shops. I started volunteering at EKO 3 years ago when I saw it listed in my church bulletin that they needed volunteers. I help at all the dances, the Prom, and the Talent Show. I served one year as the Vice President of EKO & am now a board member. I am interested in helping these kids because I have a 17 year old special ability niece that lives in Delaware & participates in the Special Olympics. Since I cannot be with her, I can be with these great kids.
While attending a bible class at his parish, perhaps 10 years ago, a good friend asked if he would like to help at a Prom event for Special Needs Kids at the Hacienda Hotel in El Segundo. He did, not knowing what that really was. While serving food he became fascinated by the joy in the air, the decorations, the dancing, the entertainment and the kids and their parents. When asked again the following year, he attended the Prom again and was directed to be the greeter at the door. That actually did it. He had so much fun and learned how much he loved the kids and liked to interact with them. The next thing he knew he was on the Board of Directors and began attending dances and meetings of the board. He does not know how that happened, but he knows he loves the kids and that he is grateful for our precious children of God and those who love and care for them.
Sandi is a third generation California native and grew up in the Playa del Rey area. She earned her BA and MA degrees from USC and taught for 38 years in Westchester. She was also a teacher and coordinator for special education in LAUSD. Sandi has two grown children and attends Journey of Faith Church in Manhattan Beach. Her main hobbies are sports, playing cards and socializing. Sandi is an energetic fundraiser and has been volunteering for the EKO for three years.
Communications Secretary
I attended my first EKO dance in 2003 when my special needs son was a freshman in high school. I loved watching my son and seeing the joy that he and the other attendees displayed as they enjoyed their friends, the music, dancing, laughing and simply doing what all teens and young adults want to do, hang out with their peers. By the next dance I was hooked I asked if I could help out and before I knew it, I was on the Board. Through the years I’ve watch our kids grow into young adults, I’ve developed life long friendships with parents and caregivers and welcomed new kids and their families into our group.
What bonds me to the EKO is the love and joy I feel from the dancers, their parents, the volunteers and the dedication and hard work of the EKO Board. I am proud and honored to be affiliated with the EKO and hope to be working with this group for many more years to come.
Student Representative
Adam has been attending EKO dances and activities since the very beginning. Adam loves dancing and music and spending time with friends. He has served as Prom King. Adam also enjoys equestrian therapy.
Student Representative
For about 10 years, I have gone to EKO activities like the monthly dances, proms, family fun days, and talent shows. I have many friends, and we all like the EKO activities. For people with disabilities like me, it is hard to find things to do. EKO is EXCEPTIONAL. The EKO Board wants to help people with special needs. So when I was asked to be the first student representative last year, I was very excited. The EKO Board wants to hear my creative ideas. I love being a student representative so that I can help the EKO Board plan activities for me and my friends.
Student Representative
Matthew began attending EKO dances when he was 14 years old. Since that time he has been an enthusiastic participant and volunteer at most EKO activities. He has also helped with presentations to groups such as Kiwanis to spread awareness of the EKO throughout the community.
