Lindsay and Troy Trigg are both graduates of the University of Southern Mississippi, and natives of the Gulf Coast and Jackson County. After volunteering with disabled people in his younger years Troy decided to try to make a career as a recreational therapist. When his college internship took him to Boulder, Colorado (One of the top Parks and Recreation Departments in the country), he learned from the best-certified therapeutic recreation specialists and the EXPAND program. The DREAM Program is modeled after this program which offers the most diverse opportunities for people with disabilities. Although those career plans never came to fruition, Trigg stayed for 8 years in Boulder and the surrounding area, and remained a volunteer with EXPAND assisting by coaching, sponsoring, playing softball, basketball, wheelchair water skiing, drum classes, dances, and many other activities. While Lindsay participated with Troy, she was teaching and earning her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education.
After they moved back to the coast Troy and Lindsay decided that something was missing from their lives and both thought this area needed a program that provided recreation and leisure activities for people with disabilities. It took a couple years to get the idea rolling and begin this new program. They now look forward to the education and wonderful memories this program will provide for our community. Their goal is to employ a full-time certified therapeutic recreation specialist who will be committed to running the program. They believe this can be done in two ways, community involvement and support; as well as local recreation departments’ recognition of a need for this type of program.
One of the challenges they’ve faced is creating awareness of the programs offered, and letting young people know that there are many ways they can help in the community.
“About 3 months ago I had a young music artist named Abigail Osteen approached me about doing a fundraiser for the Dream Program,” says Troy. “During our conversation Abigail let me know she would be having a world premier for her music video in August at the Mary C. and she wanted all of the proceeds from ticket sales to go to the DREAM Program. I was impressed with Abigail’s sincere desire to use her talents to benefit others and I quickly realized this was a perfect opportunity to bring the message of our organization to a whole new audience.”
Abigail is 16 years old and is an accomplished pianist, guitarist and singer who has written over 375 songs and recently won the Nashville Songwriter Shootout. In June Abigail filmed the music video for her original song, “The Best That I Can Do.” The music video features Ocean Springs, and many of the children who participate in the DREAM Program had the opportunity to be extras in the video. Troy adds, “She is really, really good. I would not be surprised at all if she actually made it big time one day. I have played music all my life and consider myself a pretty hard judge of music talent, but this girl has got it all!”
At the video premier, on August 2nd, Troy Trigg will have an opportunity to talk about the DREAM Program, and is very excited about the exposure working with Abigail will bring to the organization. The music video has the potential to be viewed tens of thousands of times on YouTube and information on the DREAM Program will be displayed at the end of the video. This fall, Abigail will play concerts at schools on the Gulf Coast and she will have DREAM Program brochures and material at her performances. To attend the premier on August 2nd calls the Mary C. at 818-2878 for ticket information.
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