Best Buddies International
| Founded | 1989 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Anthony Kennedy Shriver |
| Type | Service |
| Focus | To enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities |
| Origins | Georgetown University |
Area served | International |
| Method | Community service |
| Website | www.bestbuddies.org |
Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.
Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is an international organization that has grown from one original chapter. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States. The organization has accredited international programs on six continents with additional country programs under active development.
Mission of Best Buddies
To establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.[1]
Founding
When Anthony K. Shriver was a senior at Georgetown University, he announced in his history class that he was starting a Student Volunteer Organization. In the first two years of Best Buddies International it grew to 67 colleges and universities in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Nationwide, more than 1,100 college students are matched with similar number of buddies.[2] h.
Requirements
Each chapter has different events and plans. Most of them require members to visit their buddies at least once every two weeks. Anthony K. Shriver stated “Everybody comes in wanting to be matched with a smiling, cute little kid with Down Syndrome, but that’s not the way most people with Mental Retardation are. Eighty five percent look and act just like you and I act, but they couldn’t read an algebra problem.”[citation needed]
Fundraising
The Best Buddies Challenge is a biannual bicycling event in the United States that raises money for the organization. The first Challenge, the Hyannis Port Challenge, has been held in May, in the Boston area. It followed a course from the Kennedy Compound to Cape Cod.[citation needed]
The second, the Hearst Castle Challenge has taken place along the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) from Carmel, California to San Simeon, California in October. The ride has started at a winery and followed the PCH to finish at the Hearst Castle (or "ranch").[citation needed]
The Best Buddies Challenge is now sponsored by Audi. Participants choose to cycle, walk or run.[3]
Leadership Conference
The International Leadership Conference is held for four days annually in Indiana University, usually in late July.[4]
Almost 1,500 student leaders attend the conference from over 36 countries worldwide.[citation needed]
The Goal
The goal of Best Buddies is not only to build everlasting friendship and bonds between individuals; also “ part of our mission is to make it so people won’t stare, so when you go downtown or into church, they’re use to having people with mental retardation in there.”[5][citation needed]
References
- ^ http://www.bestbuddies.org/best-buddies/mission-vision
- ^ Saturday Evening Post April 1991
- ^ http://www.bestbuddieschallenge.org/
- ^ http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=306627
- ^ People magazine
Source
- This article drew heavily on the de:Best Buddies International in the German-language Wikipedia, accessed April 27, 2007.