Meet Our Founder
Erica O'Brien
Founder & President | Emagine Inc.
A Mother's Love. A Son's Legacy. A Mission to Make a Difference.
A Mother's Love. A Son's Legacy. A Mission to Make a Difference.
Emagine Inc. was born from something deeply personal—my love for my son, Phil, and my desire to create a lasting legacy in his honor.
In November 2018, my life changed forever when I lost Phil to gun violence in Orlando. Losing my son is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. But I never wanted his story to end with how he died. I wanted something meaningful to grow from the life he lived.
Phil had a heart for helping others, and that is what I want his legacy to represent.
I founded Emagine Inc. in 2023 with a vision to give young people something every child deserves: a safe place to belong, a strong support system, and opportunities to build a better future.
I want to help create environments where youth have positive alternatives to the streets, where they can discover their talents, explore their interests, develop confidence, and surround themselves with people who believe in their potential.
Whether through sports, music, education, mentorship, creative programs, or community partnerships, my goal is to help open doors that might otherwise remain closed.
I also recognize that supporting our youth means supporting their families. When families are struggling, children feel that impact too. That's why Emagine's mission extends beyond youth programs to helping families access resources, stability, and community support.
I cannot change what happened to Phil. But I can choose what I do moving forward.
I choose to build something that gives another young person an opportunity, another family a helping hand, and another community a reason to come together.
Emagine is my way of honoring my son—not by focusing on the tragedy of losing him, but by creating something positive in the world because he was here.
Phil is my reason. Our youth are my purpose. Their future is our mission.
Erica O'Brien
Founder & President, Emagine Inc.
Empowering Youth. Building Futures.
