Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Best Buddies mission?
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.
What are the Best Buddies programs?
Best Buddies Citizens
Best Buddies Citizens matches people with intellectual disabilities in one-to-one friendships with individuals in the corporate and civic communities. Friends and family are the foundation that help human beings become successful. Without love, support, and friends, our lives would be empty – a life people with intellectual disabilities have been forced to live throughout history. Since 1993, volunteers are changing lives by simply sharing their time with a new friend.
Best Buddies Colleges
Best Buddies Colleges pairs people with intellectual disabilities in one-to-one friendships with college students. In the past, individuals with intellectual disabilities have not had the opportunity to have friends outside of their own environment. By becoming a College Buddy, volunteers offer a Peer Buddy the chance to explore a new way of life.
Best Buddies High Schools
Since 1993, Best Buddies High Schools has paired students with intellectual disabilities in one-to-one friendships with high school students. By introducing Best Buddies into public and private high schools, participants are crossing the invisible line that too often separates those with disabilities from those without.
Best Buddies Jobs
Best Buddies Jobs continues the integration of people with intellectual disabilities into the community through supported employment. The program helps individuals attain and maintain jobs of their own choosing by providing ongoing support and training, enabling people with intellectual disabilities to earn an income, pay taxes, and work in an environment alongside others in the community. Since its inception, Best Buddies Jobs has placed more than 500 individuals in integrated employment positions.
Best Buddies Middle Schools
In today’s middle schools, students with intellectual disabilities often enter the same building and walk the same hallways as their peers, but they are left out of social activities. Started in 2001, Best Buddies Middle Schools is already active on many middle school campuses pairing students with intellectual disabilities in one-to-one friendships.
e-Buddies®
e-Buddies® is an e-mail pen pal program for people with an intellectual disability of all ages (10 years old and up) and peer volunteers from across the United States and around the globe. e-Buddies is a fun and safe way to make a new friend in a secure online setting, and is available to anyone who has an e-mail address. e-Buddies can also be a great teaching tool for a special education classroom that can help teach social skills, as well as literacy and computer skills. Joining e-Buddies is quick and easy. Simply visit www.ebuddies.org to read more and to complete the online application.
Why is Best Buddies important?
People with intellectual disabilities are often excluded from society because of their disability. Best Buddies seeks to change society's perception of people with intellectual disabilities by establishing meaningful friendships which, in turn, help people with intellectual disabilities navigate through life with more confidence and ease.
Who funds Best Buddies?
Best Buddies raises funds through a diverse development effort that includes individual donors, the sale of art and merchandise, special events, government grants, and foundation funding. The annual budget of Best Buddies for 2009 is $22,000,000.
How did Best Buddies start?
Best Buddies was founded by Anthony K. Shriver in 1987 while he was a student at Georgetown University. In 1989, Best Buddies was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and expanded to 33 college chapters. Best Buddies of America formally changed to Best Buddies International with the opening of chapters in Greece in 1992.
Where is Best Buddies going in the United States?
By 2010, Best Buddies will continue to build on its successful volunteer base in all 50 States, further expand its accredited international programs to 50 countries and annually engage more than 500,000 people worldwide.
Best Buddies has grown tremendously in its short existence. However, most of the country still lacks programs to help people with intellectual disabilities become a part of mainstream society. We would like to bring Best Buddies to all the areas where there is a need; there are approximately 7 million people with intellectual disabilities in the United States. We have a long way to go, but with the help of volunteers dedicated to our mission, we will continue to grow. If you would like to help us raise the funds necessary to open a Best Buddies office in your state, please sign our guest book.
Is Best Buddies expanding internationally?
We always welcome interest from community leaders who are interested in helping us bring Best Buddies to their regions of the world. For more information on Best Buddies' international programs, please contact: Valerie Vitale, + 1 305-374-2233, ext. 206, or valerievitale@bestbuddies.org
How can I volunteer?
If you are a middle school, high school, or college student, contact the nearest Best Buddies office to find out if there is a Best Buddies chapter at your school and how to join it. Your nearest Best Buddies office can also help if there is not a chapter at your school and you wish to start one. If you would like to volunteer as a Citizen Buddy, and you live in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts or Nevada, please contact the appropriate offices to request a Citizens application. Otherwise, please contact info@bestbuddies.org.
How can I volunteer without being matched in a friendship?
High school and college chapters generally have a handful of volunteers who are not matched in friendships but assist the chapter. This is at the discretion of the student leader. Otherwise, contact the office nearest you and ask how you can help. We have plenty of opportunities for you to use your talents -- special events, mailings, group outings, etc., -- and we are always looking for volunteers. You can also click here to find out how You Can Help.
I have intellectual disabilities. How can I be a Buddy?
If you are a person with intellectual disabilities, and you would like to be matched in a one-to-one friendship, please contact the office nearest you. We also invite you to join e-Buddies, our e-mail friendship program, by completing and submitting the online application at http://www.ebuddies.org/.
How can I purchase a Best Buddies shirt?
You can place your merchandise orders in the following ways:
- Order by credit card online at Our Store.
- Call or e-mail Litz Emmanuel at 1-800-89-BUDDY or Merchandise@bestbuddies.org.
- Send your order form and payment by regular mail or fax to Best Buddies Headquarters:
Best Buddies International
Attn: Litz Emmanuel
100 Southeast Second Street
Suite 2200 Miami, FL 33131-2151
Fax: (305) 374-5305
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