Darren and Stacy Horst’s 17-year-old daughter Erin was a gentle and talented girl who faced many challenges, primarily what is formerly known as Asperger’s Syndrome. The couple lost their beloved daughter too soon, but they aspire to allow Erin’s compassionate spirit to live on through charity. The Horst family founded Erin’s Hope for Friends in loving memory of Erin to help teens struggling with autism make meaningful and lasting social connections.
 
Founded in 2014 in metro Atlanta, Erin’s Hope for Friends welcomed members to connect at e’s Club locations. These spaces were filled with opportunities for conversation, games, creativity, and friendships. The pandemic of 2020 forced a restructuring of the charity, and by late March 2020, staff had created a virtual experience for members using the Zoom platform. Programming appeals to members’ interests, increase social interactions and supports neuro-diverse relationships.

In 2023, we resumed in-person events with locations in Woodstock, GA, and Lexington, KY.