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| The Basics |
| Best Buddies is a non-profit organization that connects people with and without mental retardation or a developmental disability. As long as people with mental retardation are not readily intergrated into schools, workplaces, and communities, Best Buddies has a purpose. The friendships that the organization helps to create are strong bonds that benefit both people with and without mental retardation. The organization has grown from one chapter on one college campus to an international organization involving 30,000 particpants annually on more than 600 high school and college campuses in the United States, Canada, and Greece. There are more than 7.5 million people with mental retardation in the United States and 250 million worldwide. If all of these people could be paired with the 14 million students in the United States and the 77 million college students worldwide, then the vision of Best Buddies would be fulfilled. |
| Beginnings |
| Best Buddies began in 1987 by now Chairman Anthony K. Shriver. Anthony Shiver is one of the sons of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President John F. Kennedy. By having a family member with mental retardation, Anthony's Aunt Rosemary, the Kennedy family has contributed a great deal to the improvement of the lives of people with mental retardation, Best Buddies being one of them. Mr. Shriver saw the lack of opportunity people with mental retardation had to socialize and live with non-disabled peers. Being a college student at the time, he saw students as a great resource of energy to bridge the gap between the disabled and the not. Since its incorporation in 1989, Best Buddies has impacted the lives of not only the volunteers but also the buddies. |
| Best Buddies Organizational Chart |
| The Best Buddies Organization has a clear chain of command and resources set-up in order to facilitate the most friendships. The headquarters, based in Miami, Florida, is run by the founder and chairman, Anthony Kennedy Shriver, and the Director of Programs, David M. Quilleon. The next level of organization is at the state or regional level. Within state, regional, or field offices, State Directors and Program Managers recruit members to form friendship and create chapters. From that group Chapters form with officers, and Buddies. |
| Major Milestones |
| 1989 Best Buddies becomes America's first non-profit national, unified, social, and recreational program for people with mental retardation. During this time 33 college chapters are created. |
| 1990 Best Buddies hosted the first National Leadership Conference to train 100 student leaders from 66 campuses around the country. Best Buddies Art Company is also created in order to garner the support of internationally renowned artists. The Images of Friendship series was developed, raising more than $5 million to date, including works by Haring, Lichtenstein, and Rauschenberg. |
| 1992 A major grant from Florida Development Disabilities Planning Council allows for the national office to move to Miami, Florida. Best Buddies also became Best Buddies International with the opening of the first international chapters in Greece. The number of chapters has risen to 138. |
| 1996 Best Buddies is the first non-profit to have a national supported employment program for people with mental retardation as services expand from Florida to Southern California | 2000 Best Buddies Middle School is created which involves the youngest group of students, with the hopes that starting at a younger age will have an even greater effect. In the year 2000 there are 27 middle school chapters, 312 high school chapters, 222 college chapters, 182 citizen matches, 125 job placements, and 381 e-Buddies matches. |
| Volunteer Opportunities for Best Buddies |
| Best Buddies Middle School The goal of this program is to pair middle school students with students thier age with mental retardation. This is the youngest program that Best Buddies offers. Best Buddies is working towards the day when mentally retarded students will be successfully integrated in schools. Until then, Best Buddies seeks to educate middle school students about the needs and abilities of thier peers with disabilities. |
| Best Buddies High School High school students are paired with their peers with mental retardation and the chapter is run by a high school student and supported by a member of the faculty and a special education teacher. Thier are more than 420 chapters in Massachusetts, Florida, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsyvania, Illinois, Utah, and Texas. |
| Best Buddies College The college program matches college students in friendships with people with mental retardation. With more than 315 chapters in the United States, each chapter is run by student volunteers, school administration, and a mental retardation professional. |
| Best Buddies Citizens The purpose of this organization is to recruit volunteers from the community and pair them up with people with mental retardation. Citizens are expected to facilitate and monitor each friendship on an individual basis. There are currently Citizens programs in Florida, Maryland, Illinois, Massachusetts, and California. |
| e-Buddies This is a new program that creates e-mail friendships between people with and without mental retardation. Members teach their Buddies how to use a computer and e-mail. This program makes it possible for the Best Buddies Organization to spread all over the world. |
| Best Buddies Jobs This program identifies and develops competitive, well paying jobs for people with developmental disabilities. The employment program is available in Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; and Boston, Massachusetts. |
| For more information please visit the International Best Buddies Website, www.bestbuddies.org. |
| References |
| Best Buddies International http://www.bestbuddies.org |
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Created By: Geanina Hent and Susan Colella
Created: April 15, 2002
Last Modified: April 15, 2002