About The Club
Best Buddies International 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 (IDD).
- Friendship- Best Buddies’ elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, e-Buddies, and Citizens programs all provide opportunities for people with and without IDD to be matched in a one-to-one friendship. Leadership- Leadership development programs educate and empower people with and without IDD to become leaders, public speakers and advocates. Best Buddies passionately believes that its program participants can lead the effort within their community and beyond to build a more inclusive world for people with IDD. These programs include Best Buddies Ambassadors and Best Buddies Promoters.
- Integrated Employment- Best Buddies provides supported employment opportunities for people with IDD to gain jobs and competitive wages in integrated settings. This ensures that all workforces are inclusive and that people with IDD can reach their full potential and earn an income, contribute to society, and showcase the abilities of all persons. This program includes Best Buddies Jobs.
Facts about Best Buddies International
- Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver at Georgetown University
- More than 2,300 chapters worldwide in over 54 countries
- Positively impacting the lives of over 1.1 million people with and without IDD
- Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States
Facts about Best Buddies Wisconsin
- Positively impacting the lives of over 32,000 people with and without IDD in Wisconsin alone
- 54 chapters across the state (school friendships program)
- 4 elementary school chapters
- 8 middle school chapters
- 34 high school chapters
- 8 college chapters
- 50 active Citizen matches (adult friendships program). Over 35 Wisconsin Ambassadors have participated in a variety of novice and advanced workshops including individual and buddy pair trainings
Quick Links
www.bestbuddies.org
www.bestbuddies.org/wisconsin
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Length of Season / Commitment: |
School Year |
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Time Commitment: |
One meeting and one event a month (at most). |
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Must have an orange card to participate. No co-curricular fee is required.
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