Best Buddies International

2018 has been filled with many new adventures, and of course, another year of friendship and inclusion. As we dive into our 30th anniversary, let us first reflect on all we accomplished in 2018:

• We opened two new corporate Citizens chapters at Northwestern Mutual and Associated Bank.

• We added 4 new school chapters and now directly serve more than 3,500 participants.

• We made 8 new Citizens matches. Congrats to all who received their new buddies this year. We look forward to seeing your friendship grow over the years.

• We have 86 active Citizens participants and trained 15 new Ambassadors.

• Thanks to The BeckStephs Team, our Citizens members raised over $3,200 at our annual Friendship Walk! Great job everyone and we hope to see you again at our 2019 Friendship Walk on May 4, 2019!

• Congratulations to Citizens participant, Brianna Powers, and her family who received the Van Handel Spirit of Inclusion Award at our annual Leadership Breakfast.

• Our annual Best Buddies Friendship Walk, Golf Outing presented by Eggers Imprints, and Leadership Breakfast raised more than $266,000 for our local programs and brought together 2,000 people to support inclusion.

• We sent 62 chapter leaders, 5 Ambassadors, 3 volunteers, and 5 staff to Best Buddies Leadership Conference.

• We brought together more than 1,500 of our program participants at our annual All-Chapter Dance, Brewers Game and Tailgate, and Jump for Inclusion.

• We introduced a summer programmatic event series! We hope to continue these events for Citizens next summer.

• Nearly 200 student leaders participated in our Local Leadership Training Day, Project: Inclusion.

• We held 16 events for our Citizens participants to attend. Thanks to all who attended!

• We welcomed four new faces to our staff, including State Director, Laura Brackett, Director of Development, Caroline Tyson, and two new Program Managers, Kate Slattery and McKenna Carrigan.

• Finally, we directly impacted more than 30,000 parents, teachers, students, and community members this year through our local events, social media, and our local friendship and leadership programs.

Without your support, none of this would have been possible! We can’t thank you enough and look forward to seeing the impact will make during our 30th anniversary! Share some of your favorite #BBWI moments by tagging us and using the hashtag #BestBuddies30.

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Steinhafels’ motto, “A culture of giving back” shines bright through their support of Best Buddies in Wisconsin. Through their work with more than 100 local nonprofits each year, it is apparent Steinhafels is committed to serving their community.

Whether it’s donating a product or providing their corporate store’s Community Room for organizations to host events, Steinhafels is fully invested in giving back to local communities.

Best Buddies in Wisconsin is excited to announce Steinhafels will continue their partnership by sponsoring the following local school friendship programs for the 2018-2019 school year: Bay View High School, Brookfield Central High School, Grafton High School, Menomonee Falls High School, Nicolet High School and Wauwatosa West High School. Their generous sponsorship will allow each school’s Chapter President to attend the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference in July.

Each school was carefully selected by Steinhafels to provide the greatest opportunity for their employees to interact and engage with their sponsored schools. Steinhafels employees support Best Buddies in Wisconsin in a variety of ways like attending chapter meetings and events, volunteering with our Citizens participants and participating in our annual Friendship Walk.

This partnership would not be possible without an amazing internal advocate, Steph Graham, who is involved in Citizens, our adult friendship program. She and her Buddy, Becky, were the first match in this program. When they joined Citizens, both Becky and Steph were looking for the same things: ways to get more involved in their community, a chance to experience new things, and the opportunity to form a meaningful friendship.

From celebrating birthdays and Galentines Day, to attending shows and cheering on the Milwaukee Brewers, these two do it all – and most importantly, they do it all together! Steph and Becky truly exemplify the mission of the Citizens program, and we are thrilled how their friendship has developed.

Thank you to Steinhafels for your continued support and for promoting inclusion in your business and across the community! We look forward to continuing to grow our partnership!

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February 14, 2019
6pm – 8pm

March 2, 2019
5pm – 7pm

Microsoft Store at Saint Louis Galleria Mall
2417 St. Louis Galleria
Suite 2417
St. Louis, Mo 63117

Switched Up Rocket League in partnership with Best Buddies Missouri, Washington University Occupational Therapy and the Microsoft Store at Saint Louis Galleria.
This is a great opportunity to play with new games offered by Microsoft while making new friends.
For information contact: hawkinschernof@wustl.edu

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When Carolina attended one of her Special Olympics swimming classes back in 2017, little did she know that her future soulmate was in that class. Shortly after the class started, they met. It was the first time Carolina met Andy, and it was love at first sight.

Soon, the pair learned that they were both part of the Best Buddies Citizens program and that they both had been involved in Best Buddies for years!

They had so much in common that Andy did not miss his chance, and soon asked Carolina out on a date.

“He asked me out and I said yes. Then we started hanging out, going on more dates. He started taking me to dinner,” said Carolina. “He took me out to dinner on my birthday, and he paid!”

To no one’s surprise, their dates turned into something much more special. They were spending more and more time with each other. Their connection was undeniable.

“We started talking on the phone for a very long time. We usually talked on the phone for more than an hour!” she said excitingly.

Through the Best Buddies Citizens program, Andy and Carolina grew closer and made meaningful connections with their peers and even their Program Manager.

“Anything is possible with love and there should be no limitations for anyone, no matter what their circumstances are,” said Cynthia Fernandez, Best Buddies Program Manager for the Citizens program in South Florida. “Both Carolina and Andy know how much I love and support them. They are my lovebirds.”

For Carolina, the Best Buddies Citizens program — which pairs adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in one-to-one friendships with other individuals in corporate and civic communities — has been beneficial in many ways.

“The Best Buddies program helps me with a lot of things. It helps me to be more independent and do things fun things on my own with Andy,” she said.

This past December, two years after they started dating, Andy gathered his family, as well as Carolina and her family, for a special moment.

“The first thing he gave me was a frame that said ‘I love you to the moon and back,’” said Carolina.

Then, it happened. Surrounded by the couple’s closest friends and family members, Andy proposed to Carolina!

“We were both emotional. I was so happy when he proposed, and of course, I said YES!”

The day was filled with love and gratitude for everyone, but for one person, the couple’s engagement signified a special milestone.

“I remember when Carolina was born, my husband talked about if he’d ever be able to walk his daughter down the aisle to get married, and we could never imagine that it would happen to her. We are very happy for both of them,” said Lilianne Rossel, Carolina’s mother. “I mean, it’s like… you look at them and it’s like a dream.”

For Carolina and Andy, their engagement was one of the most special days of their lives. The young couple is now looking forward to their wedding, which will take place in 2020!

The post She said YES! The love tale of Andy and Carolina. appeared first on Best Buddies International.

Best Buddies DFW is excited to announce its partnership with the Social Production Photo Booth, Inc.

The Social Production provides photo booth rentals with unlimited prints, animated GIF, custom design, social media sharing, photo filters, premium props and much more. The Social Production Photo Booth is a great way to have fun and create memories for a special occasion. They aim to bring more smiles, laughter, and joy to any occasion. The photo booth can be set up inside or outside and the staff will be there throughout the event to make sure everything goes smoothly. For more information visit: https://www.socialprophotobooth.com/

This year, the Social Production Photo Booth was at the annual Best Buddies DFW Winter Formal. Their staff was experienced, professional and amazing working with all the Best Buddies Formal attendees. The props provided with the photo booth were fun and everyone enjoyed using them to enhance their photos. The Best Buddies group loved having a takeaway souvenir photo from the evening to capture special memories from the event. A Special thank you to Bryan and your wonderful Social Production staff for attending and supporting the Winter Formal event!

The Social Production team will be participating at the next Best Buddies DFW event, the 2019 Friendship Walk at Frisco Square/Coleman Blvd. on April 27^th. Best Buddies DFW invites you to come out and meet this great partner! Hope to see you on April 27^th!

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From January 14-19, 2019, Indiana’s Best Buddies staff traveled to Florida to join other staff members from across the nation for leadership training and development at the 2019 Best Buddies Staff Leadership Conference (BBSLC). This was a time to refocus as an organization and to recognize the work accomplished in furthering the Best Buddies mission.

This year, Indiana’s own Natalie Seibert was recognized as our staff member State Director of the Year for her tremendous efforts in Indiana. Natalie has dedicated the past 11 years to creating inclusive friendships, jobs, and leaders in Indiana. Heather Barnes, Senior Director of Operations, gives more insight into Natalie’s impact on Best Buddies.

“Natalie is a true leader both within her state as well as within the organization. Natalie is one of only a small, hand-selected leaders asked to represent the organization’s development efforts on our Five Stars Walk team. Five years ago, Natalie took on the role as state director, and in that time has constantly pushed and strived to elevate and expand the programs offered within Indiana. Three years ago, her advisory board told her they wanted to start a Citizens program, so Natalie went and found the money to start the Citizens program. Then there was an interest in expanding programs in Indiana to offer supported employment services via the Best Buddies Jobs program, so Natalie started a Jobs program. In 2018 the combined walks budgets for Indiana was $172,410. The Indiana team raised $195,219! The budget for the state’s Champion of the Year event was $199,00 and Best Buddies Indiana raised over $300K and exceeded the goal by over $100K. In her five years as state director, Natalie has hit the state’s revenue goal each year — a feat which is hard to accomplish in the competitive arena of fundraising. More importantly, however, Natalie is a caring supervisor and compassionate co-worker. Natalie shows true affection for her staff, our program participants and her peers across the nation. She is always willing to reach out with a helpful idea, lend a hand, or ask for assistance, all signs of a great team player. Natalie is such a joy to work with and we’re so proud to honor her as our 2018 State Director of the Year”.

Congratulations, Natalie!

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On February 9, 2019, Best Buddies in Wisconsin partnered with Associated Bank to host its inaugural Leadership Academy Training. BBWI was selected to be one of the first states to launch this new leadership development program.

Leadership Academy allows Best Buddies participants with and without IDD to further enhance their advocacy and leadership skills through a series of interactive sessions. Over 20 people from local high schools, colleges and businesses attended the event. We were also honored to welcome Holly Goshin, Director, Leadership Academy from Best Buddies International.

The morning began with a session dedicated to finding personal leadership styles. Participants took the “True Colors” assessment and discovered which “color” they most aligned with. Then participants broke into groups according to their “color” and were given the task of planning a trip. This activity helped participants understand that as leaders, it is important to value the uniqueness within us all and realize that people have different ways of learning but that we can work together for the same goal.

Sam Bear, a member of the Best Buddies Wisconsin Young Professionals Council, helped lead our next session which focused on understanding the different programs Best Buddies in Wisconsin offers. Attendees were given scenarios and asked how they would respond and talk about Best Buddies.

We then held a “working” lunch as we invited Courtney Rogaczewski, Senior Director of the Best Buddies Jobs Program, to come and talk about our Jobs program.

After lunch, Lauren Peter, another member from our Young Professionals Council, lead our Networking and Social Media session. Attendees learned about how to give a good first impression when meeting someone new, as well as best practices for using social media.

The day finished with a session on diversity and inclusion. Participants discussed what inclusion looks like in our communities, how to use people first language, and reviewed the history of the disability movement and how we can continue to make a difference today.

We had an amazing time working with everyone and are excited to bring this new leadership development program to Wisconsin! Special thanks to our event sponsors: Associated Bank, Einstein Bagels, Starbucks Coffee and Jersey Mikes Subs.

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Leadership Development

When I was first introduced to Best Buddies 15 years ago, I had no idea how much it would impact my life and help me become the woman I am today.

Growing up, I felt misunderstood- I didn’t have many friends or felt included in school. When I was in elementary school, I remember being told by another girl that I looked different and weird. that I looked like an alien. When I turned around, there was a group of my classmates laughing at me. I remember feeling so embarrassed and alone-feelings that I carried with me until I was introduced to Best Buddies many years later during high school. I feel like that’s when my life really started to change course for the better!

Joining Best Buddies changed my life in so many positive ways, but most importantly, it marks the first time I didn’t feel held-back or defined by my disabilities.

I started to engage more with my peers and felt included at Best Buddies meetings, group activities and social events. It was like I had found the missing puzzle piece to my life! I’ll never forget how it felt when I was paired up with my first peer buddy, Michelle. It was my first experience having a friend and being a friend in return.

By staying involved with Best Buddies over the past 15 years, I’ve been able to find my voice and tell myself “I CAN!” The friendships I’ve made have helped me with some of my biggest personal challenges. I’ve always feared that people won’t like me or give me a chance, but not anymore! Today I live independently, pay bills, stay active in my community, and have had a job for over 5 years. I’m matched in an awesome one-to-one friendship through the Best Buddies Friendship chapter at Arizona State University and have been actively involved with the Ambassadors program in Arizona for the past six years.

Early memories like the ones from elementary school can still be painful to think about, but they also remind me of how far I’ve come. They help to motivate me in my role as an Ambassador, advocating on behalf of those who might be feeling or experiencing the things I once did, but may not have the sense of hope I feel now. Now, I get to be a leader and advocate for myself and others about the importance of inclusion, friendship and acceptance. I want others to feel valued and included, regardless of whether or not they have a disability. Everybody deserves to feel and experience the things that Best Buddies has done for me and so many of my peers. When people are seen for their abilities and not singled out because of their disabilities, it can change lives and it can change the world.

Today I feel valued, important, and truly happy with the person I have become. I am grateful for the impact that Best Buddies has made on my life and so many of my friends. Thank you to Best Buddies for inspiring me to live with courage.

The post Meet Jessica appeared first on Best Buddies International.

Integrated Employment

Anne is an accomplished professional and advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). As a Best Buddies Capital Region Jobs participant, she has been mentored and supported to excel in her career, advocacy, and personal growth.

“Before becoming involved with Best Buddies, life was challenging. I struggled in school and later had difficulty finding employment. I eventually found work as a receptionist, but after a few years, I wanted to move to a different job with more responsibilities. I interviewed many times, but couldn’t understand why I wasn’t being hired. Then, in 2016, I was introduced to Best Buddies.

With the help of the Best Buddies Jobs program, I was hired as a full-time Operations Representative at Accenture Federal Services. I work in the Chantilly location where I help stock supplies and track census in the Parkstone building. I love making my rounds taking census because I get to talk to people in the building and now I have many, many friends! I continue to learn new skills at my job and I accomplish both professional and personal goals. One of my new duties is to give a presentation with a fellow team member to new hires. I am able to practice my public speaking skills and have the chance to meet others as the welcoming face of Accenture. I am grateful for Best Buddies because they helped me get a job when I couldn’t do it by myself. My job coaches continue to support me by coming in when I need help learning a new task or when I need help completing a training. I am very thankful for this level of support.

I have served as a walk team captain for the Best Buddies Friendship Walk: Capital Region, recruiting the help of my Accenture team members. We made a large donation on behalf of the team, but more importantly, shared the mission of inclusion and acceptance for people with disabilities. I also serve as a Best Buddies Ambassador, sharing my story with others and advocating for myself, my peers, and Best Buddies in their communities, workplaces, and government. My mother taught me to always stand up for myself and with Best Buddies I can continue doing that for all people with disabilities.”

“Working with Anne this past year has been a true pleasure! She has not only been a great asset to our workplace team, but to our AFS family as a whole. Anne is a key contributor to collecting our daily census data that ensures the proper utilization of our space; she keeps the conference rooms, copy rooms, and kitchens well stocked to ensure complete employee satisfaction. She is also quite the socialite around the office and has a following of folks that I affectionately call Anne’s fans. We can’t wait to see what great things she does in 2018.”- Karen Alexander and Bill Crisp, Accenture Federal Services

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Leadership Development

“Hello, my name is Alex Keith, and I am a junior at Yorktown High School in Arlington and have been involved in Best Buddies for nearly six years. I currently serve as an Ambassador to Best Buddies, Yorktown’s Buddy Director, as well as the student representative for the Best Buddies Capital Region Advisory Board and Prom Committee. In addition to my leadership positions for Best Buddies, I work part-time at the AMC Movie Theater, I run an odd-jobs seasonal business with my brother, and I recently applied to work part-time at District Taco. When I am not working or with Best Buddies, I enjoy cooking, playing basketball, running track and playing challenger baseball.

I love Best Buddies because it is always a great opportunity to meet new people and have fun! Being a Best Buddies Ambassador has helped me develop my leadership skills and confidence. After attending training my public speaking skills greatly improved, so much so, that I spoke at the Friendship Walk in 2017 in front of nearly 2,000 people! I also attended the Best Buddies Leadership Conference in the summer of 2017 to improve my leadership skills and become a stronger advocate in my community. I was proud to attend Leadership Conference because I paid for my plane ticket myself and I flew alone, even with a layover! This was a huge accomplishment and I felt more independent after returning home from Leadership Conference. I now take all public transportation by myself to and from meetings and events!

Being a Best Buddies Ambassador is important to me because I can share my personal story and perspective in my community. I believe it is important to include everyone, especially in Best Buddies. At Yorktown, if you are lonely, we can help you out! If you are sad, we can make you feel better! Best Buddies will help everyone meet a lot of new friends, even from other schools, which is why I tell everyone to join.”

“Alex is the best Buddy Director Yorktown has ever seen. He’s been officer of the month twice because of his leadership skills and dedication to the club and the Best Buddies mission. He comes to meetings early to help out, and is always contributing new ideas at officer meetings, like our healthy snack idea. Alex will also coordinate with all of the buddies to ensure everyone is attending.”

-Rebecca Joskow, Chapter President, Yorktown High School

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Miami, FL, February 25, 2019 — Best Buddies International, a groundbreaking nonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is excited to announce the Best Buddies Friendship Walk: South Florida on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at Maurice A Ferré Park in Downtown Miami. The Best Buddies Friendship Walk: South Florida is the organization’s latest life-changing movement. Since 2009 more than 200,000 participants have walked in over 30 states and raised more than $16 million for Best Buddies.

“Our Friendship Walks are one of Best Buddies’ most celebrated events, bringing communities together where they can experience our mission in action and engage with our program participants,” said Anthony K. Shriver, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Best Buddies International. “It’s quite inspirational to see the true spirit of generosity, passion and support for the Best Buddies mission in South Florida. We’re beyond grateful for the Walk participants and donors who significantly impact the lives of those with special abilities, and the employer partners in this community who empower individuals with IDD, and are actively making not just South Florida, but the world, a more inclusive place.”

Best Buddies South Florida is proud to have 2,500 (and counting) participants lacing up their shoes to walk for inclusion, all working towards surpassing 2019’s fundraising goal of $600,000. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and the walk commences at 9:15 a.m. at Maurice A Ferré Park, 1075 Biscayne Boulevard. Following the walk, please join Best Buddies for a day of fun, family, fitness and friendship.

Proceeds from the Friendship Walk are fundamental in supporting state programs that provide one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development. These programs can be found in all 50 states and will create promising opportunities for more than 350,000 people this year.

Walk for inclusion. Walk for friendship. Walk for a better South Florida.

This year’s Best Buddies Friendship Walk: South Florida sponsors and corporate partners include: Mastercard, Turnberry & Associates, Value Store It, Royal Media Partners, Holland & Knight, City of North Bay Village, City of Miami Beach, Inktel, Independent Purchasing Cooperative, Starwood Property Trust, City of Hialeah, Gray|Robinson, Carlton Fields, Shin Wellness, Boies Schiller & Flexner, Celebrity Cruises, South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine, BankUnited, Channel 7 WSVN, Nordstrom, Tusk Ventures, Valuation Services Inc., Duane Morris LLP, PNC Bank, Banco do Brasil, Tuuci, Publix, Zumba, Apollo Bank, Park Street, & Pirtle Construction.

ABOUT BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL:

Best Buddies® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 2,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies’ nine formal programs — Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies® , Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters and Inclusive Living — engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 50 countries, positively impacting the lives of over 1.2 million people with and without disabilities around the world. In many cases, as a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org, facebook.com/bestbuddies or twitter.com/bestbuddies.

For more information about the Walk and/or media inquiries, please contact:

Catherine Alcantara
305.374.2233 x201
CatherineAlcantara@bestbuddies.org

For media inquiries (including requests for credentials):

Nicole Maddox
NicoleMaddox@BestBuddies.org

Amaury Sablon
AmaurySablon@BestBuddies.org

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One-to-One Friendship

“Walking into my first day of school was terrifying. I was coming from a middle school where I had established myself, built connections throughout the faculty and made contributions to the school. Going into freshman year, I had not anticipated the pressure of recreating all of those things, but I soon learned that they were important to me as a person and not just accomplishments for a resume. I developed the ability to create bonds with faculty, start new initiatives and complete projects through doing what I loved most: helping others.

I searched for many months to find the right place for me to start my journey as a high schooler. After many interesting meetings and countless flyers from the clubs fair, I stumbled upon the organization that soon changed my life and helped me change many lives of the people around me. When I was introduced to Best Buddies, I was ecstatic at the possibility of changing someone’s life by being their friend. What I have realized by meeting my buddy, Matt, is that he has changed my life by being my best friend.

“From Capitals games to Best Buddies Prom, my time spent with Matt has shown me that no matter your gender, ethnicity, religion or intellectual ability, friendship is life’s greatest gift.”

One of my favorite memories is a moment from our first Best Buddies Valentine’s Dance. Near the end of the night, the band was accompanied by one of our buddies with Down syndrome who sang the song “Hallelujah” with his dad. Within seconds, there was not a dry eye in the house and everyone had begun to hold hands and sing along. As I looked around, I saw not only our school’s students but students from other schools joining together as one huge family, sharing the love that was present in that room. As I looked over at Matt and stood holding his hand I realized, this is the real meaning of friendship.

I have been able to recognize the impact our Best Buddies chapter has had on my school. Not only has the club grown and recruited a surplus of new members, but during my soon to be four years of high school, I have seen an amazing progression towards inclusion and equality. Our buddies are no longer isolated in the corner of the lunch room because their friends invite them to sit with them at lunch. Our buddies no longer miss out on the essential events of high school like sports games because they now join us in the front row of the hype squad for almost every game. Although these events may not seem very important to some, the smiles that are spread throughout the crowd when our buddies are involved in an event are indescribable.”

– Connie

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One-to-One Friendship

“I joined Best Buddies at Albany Middle School when Camille Fischer, the Faculty Advisor, started it at the school. Camille had been an advisor with another chapter at the previous school that she worked at. I was in 7th grade when Camille started teaching math at AMS. Camille loved Best Buddies so much that she started a chapter at Albany Middle School that same year. It didn’t take much convincing for me to join! The best part was that when I graduated 8th grade and moved on to Albany High School, they had a Best Buddies chapter and it was no question that I was going to join the chapter there.

When I started Best Buddies at AHS I remembered Maha from Albany Middle School. When I was in 7th grade, Maha was in 8th. I had missed Maha when she moved on to high school, but it was so great when we were paired up because we could hang out 2-3 times a month. After getting to know each other after the first couple of meetings, we really started developing a friendship. We faced some difficulties when it came to communicating and scheduling time to hang out outside of school, but with the help of our advisor and Maha’s mom we were able to arrange ways to spend time together.

We always enjoy our time together! Since being matched as buddies in October of 2016, we have been able to do so much! We have watched countless movies, talked about music, boys and celebrated birthdays together (with her family, and even a surprise party! One of my favorite experiences with Maha was going to the iHeart Radio concert together. She had been telling me about the concert and I was able to surprise her with tickets! We were exhausted the next day, but it was worth it to see the smile on her face when each of the artists was announced, and when her favorite songs were played. It was such a fun night!

Maha and I will definitely be matched as buddies until she graduates next spring, and we plan on being friends for a lifetime!”

– Allison

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Integrated Employment

One of John’s greatest strengths is networking and meeting new people. He is a self- starter and enjoys working with creative teams in Los Angeles. After completing high school and taking some college classes, he searched for jobs on his own. He cold called a number of law firms, went in for an interview and was hired the next day. He built up his resume and gained experiences working at a law firm as a filing clerk for about a year.

His older sister attended a Best Buddies event and soon after, John first joined Best Buddies Jobs in 2003. Since then he has held different positions with different companies such as Entertainment Industry Foundation, FOX Studios and now at Propagate Content. Each opportunity helped him grow and gain a variety of experiences.

John shared:

“Through my jobs, I was able to learn to become a creative thinker and enhance my writing skills. My network pool has expanded even more, from people that work in food service industries to hotels to production companies. Through my wide range of network, I bring awareness to the population of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

I’ve spoken at multiple events sharing my experiences and continue to network with people everywhere I go. Working at Propagate Content gives me the opportunity to do what I always loved to do, be creative! I give feedback on possible television content, summarize the plots and story lines, including thoughts on what viewers would enjoy about it. I have even gained new skills. With the support of my job coach and co-workers, I’ve become more familiar with utilizing a laptop. I am getting quicker at typing and using different programs.”

As he continues to grow and be more creative, he would also love to make more trips to Las Vegas! The extroverted person that John is, it only makes sense that he unwinds at a city that never sleeps!”

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Leadership Development

“My name is William White and I am from San Jose, California. I first started with Best Buddies at the first California chapter at Palo Alto High School in 1993. I was my high school Buddy Director and joined Best Buddies when I went to college at Taft College. Now I work at AVID as a part of Best Buddies Jobs. I have been working at AVID for seven years and my favorite thing about my job is that it makes me feel really good. I want to tell you how it has changed me. When I first started working at AVID, I was only working part time. However, they needed more help, so I moved to full-time very soon. It was really hard at first, but then I met my coworkers Robbie and then Dave, who helped me overcome my fears by taking the time to explain things. Now I love my job! My coworkers are now some of my best friends. They are helpful at work, and we spend time outside work at the gym, going to dinner, shooting pool, and they often give me rides to and from work!

I also love my job because it makes me independent. I live in my own apartment, I have vacation time so I can travel, and most importantly I do not have to depend on anybody else.

With the help of my coworkers, I am always learning new things. This makes me feel like I can do anything. I feel lucky that I have a job. It has changed my life by making me independent and happy.”

– William

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September 22, 2019
Pawtucket, RI
McCoy Stadium

Join us for the Best Buddies Friendship Walk, the number one walk in the country raising awareness and funds to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The walk plays a key role in funding Best Buddies programs dedicated to one-to-one friendships, leadership development, and integrated job opportunities for individuals with IDD.

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Maya and Matt

One-to-One Friendship

“When I found out Best Buddies was coming to Talawanda High School, I immediately knew I wanted to be involved. I had heard a lot about the program from the Miami of Ohio chapter in our town, and always hoped I would be able to participate to bring more friendships to people like my friend Matthew.

In elementary school, Matthew and I were both in the play The Jungle Book. One day at practice, the girl who was assigned to a role directly next to Matthew was noticeably frustrated because he kept tapping her shoulder to talk. I offered to switch places with her, and Matthew and I have been friends ever since. I have always been passionate about inclusion, so last year when Best Buddies made it to Talawanda, I knew I would want a greater role. Matthew and I were matched right away and have been an official pair for two years.

Our friendship has really been an example for other students at our school – whether they are in Best Buddies or not. Students see us together and immediately understand that people with IDD (intellectual and developmental disabilities) have what it takes to be a friend. This has made our school become a more inclusive environment, which has helped our community at large feel more inclusive, too.

I have truly loved serving as the Chapter President of Best Buddies at Talawanda High School. I love being able to interact not only with Matthew but with all students in the club with and without IDD. We started an annual inclusive dance simply because Matthew loves to dance. We played in our school’s dodgeball tournament as a group and have been able to visit Miami’s campus for some of their Best Buddies events as well.

If you asked Matthew what his experience has been like, he would tell you that he has a ton of fun with Best Buddies. His favorite events so far have been the dance mentioned earlier, and a trip we took to the Cincinnati Reds’ stadium. He loves when the two of us hang out but also feels he has made a ton of new friends just by being in the club. He also LOVES to tell me jokes when we are together.

All in all, being part of Best Buddies has been a truly great experience – for me and for Matthew. Looking back, I’m thankful for that girl who needed to trade places with someone. I gained a best friend that day.”

Maya Meade
Chapter President
Best Buddies Talwanda High School

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One-to-One Friendship

“I’ve been a part of Best Buddies for nine years, starting my journey at Howard Middle School.

Life before Best Buddies was not as exciting as it is now. I had few friends and sometimes felt lonely. Although people were nice to me, I never had a true friendship. until I joined Best Buddies.

In 2011, I joined the Chapter at Edgewater High School and met Seaira, my current buddy of three years since 2015. Over the past few years, we’ve done many things together, like going to prom, dancing at homecoming, walking in the parade, fundraising and being a part of the Friendship Walks. Every Friday we play card games and listen to music, talk about our plans for the weekends and laugh about some of the funny times we’ve had. We also created a secret handshake, which no one will ever know! That’s just the BEGINNING of our friendship!”

Seaira began to be involved with Best Buddies her freshman year of high school, simply because she loved the mission of inclusion. “My first year I was the historian for the club, and the past two years I have been president. Having the opportunity to be directly involved in these special lives has surely impacted my life so much that I don’t see how I lived without Best Buddies before! Walking into the room for the first time I was instantly surrounded with laughter and smiles, hugs and high-fives and that is when I knew my heart was with this beautiful organization. This is when I began to develop my friendship with Travis.

I was randomly matched with Travis, who I had never met before, and although I was nervous at first, he and I instantly became best friends. I won’t forget the first time we ever hung out; we played this finger basketball game, it was hilarious because where he was shooting hoops like crazy, and I was still on my first shot! We’ve been to homecoming, walked in the homecoming parades, went to the Best Buddies proms, have been to the Friendship Walks, fundraised together, and even created our own secret handshake! Most importantly, however, we created a bond that will never be broken. I think my most favorite recent memory of us together was when we were fundraising at the Vineyard Vines at Millennia Mall, and we were so hungry that we went to go get pizza at the food court upstairs. Well, we walked all the way across the mall to get into an elevator that apparently wasn’t working and we got stuck! Although we were stuck there for a good 5-7 minutes, we both just died of laughter until the doors finally re-opened, just for us to see the same floor. The rest of the day we couldn’t stop laughing. Travis and I reminisce on memories like that all the time, and it makes me realize how special our friendship truly is.”

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Integrated Employment

Ryan became a Best Buddies participant eight years ago when he was in the Access Transition Program at Lynn University and joined their Best Buddies chapter. “It was challenging in high school and beyond because it was tough finding friends that understand who I am as a person with a disability,” said Ryan, adding that he wishes there had been a chapter in his high school. Since joining Best Buddies, he has participated in Ambassador Trainings, gone to two Leadership Conferences, and is a Buddy Director in the Florida Atlantic University Best Buddies Chapter.

In 2017, Ryan Hoffman found himself finished with school and thinking about employment. He was just in time for the start of the Palm Beach’s Jobs program and became the first participant placed.

With the help of a member on the Palm Beach County Advisory Board, Best Buddies was able to get Ryan a job at MDVIP in August of 2017. Ryan would be the new Facilities – a position that did not previously exist. By conducting a Workplace Analysis, Best Buddies was able to carve out a position specifically for Ryan.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, Ryan takes the bus from Boynton Beach to Boca for his shift from 7:00am to 2:00pm. When he first gets to the office, he stocks all of the large conference room refrigerators with the sodas and waters they will need for their meetings. Once he finishes that, he gets the mail and delivers it to the mailroom. One of his biggest jobs is making sure the four break rooms and kitchen are clean and stocked including all of the coffee stations. Finally, he cleans the counters and arranges the chairs in all of the many small conference rooms.

Ryan says he is happy because he gets to use his people skills and is learning how to receive feedback (both positive and constructive). This has been a life changer for me because now I feel confident with myself that there are people that understand where I’m coming from and who I am as a person with a disability,” he said.

Best Buddies will continue to support Ryan in every way it can. In return, Ryan shares our mission with everyone and has been a great ambassador for people with disabilities.

Best Buddies placed Ryan into our corporate office in such a seamless fashion, that Ryan immediately became part of our workforce. Their training and expertise made the experience effortless, and now Ryan is part of the MDVIP family working in our organization on a daily basis. It’s a win for MDVIP, a win for Best Buddies, and a win for Ryan.

– Matthew Hashem, President & Chief Financial Officer, MDVIP

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Leadership Development

“My story begins like many other people you know. As a child, I participated in many activities: baseball, art competitions, singing in church choir; but the one difference I had, despite how busy and surrounded by people I was, was loneliness. Outside of my immediate family, I had only made one real friend. I desperately wanted to develop more friendships and expand my circle.

My world changed when I joined Best Buddies at Coleman Middle School. The friends I made saw me for my abilities and became my support system. They have empowered me to become the young man I am today. Not only did I gain friends who made my social calendar busier than ever, I gained friends who came to my birthday parties and went to the movies with me; I gained friends who encouraged me to reach for my dreams and develop my leadership skills.

I’ve participated in Best Buddies from middle school, throughout high school, and now I participate in the University of Southern Florida chapter. I am also an Advanced Ambassador and my goal is to become a Global Ambassador so that I can spread awareness about intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and create opportunities for other people with IDD to gain employment and pursue leadership opportunities.

Since joining Best Buddies, I am happier than I have ever been! I am confident, I know that I am capable of anything I set my mind to, I am a leader, and I feel accepted within my community.

It has given me the confidence to advocate for myself and others with IDD. If I could offer words of encouragement for any other person with IDD, it is that they should stay encouraged and continue to set and work towards their goals because they will achieve them. Best Buddies is your biggest cheerleader and you are capable. You have an entire community of friends to lift you up and support you for your abilities!

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