Best Buddies: Changing Lives Through Friendship

Submitted by: Matthew Stehl, Pennsylvania State Director, Best Buddies International

The year was 1989, the Berlin Wall came tumbling down, "Wind Beneath my Wings" was a #1 song, the Oakland A’s won the only World Series ever delayed by an earthquake and a young college student who dreamed of a world where friendships were not limited by disabilities created Best Buddies. That Georgetown University student, Anthony Kennedy Shriver, created a global movement. Today, Best Buddies has grown the world over, providing one-to-one friendships for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in all 50 States and 44 countries.

Since 1994 Best Buddies Pennsylvania has grown friendships locally. Today, there are Best Buddies chapters in 51 middle schools, high schools and colleges throughout Pennsylvania. Local high school chapters include Archbishop Carroll, Bucks County Tech, Conestoga, Franklin Towne Charter, Haverford, Owen J. Roberts, Pennridge, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Quakertown, Unionville and West Chester East. Area Colleges with Best Buddies chapters include Gwynedd Mercy, St. Joe’s Temple, Ursinus, Villanova and West Chester. Best Buddies supports over 1,300 participants at our 17 Philadelphia area chapters.

Best Buddies matches high school and college volunteers in a one-to-one friendship with a person with IDD. Once matched "Buddy Pairs" contact each other once a week and go out socially twice a month. Buddy Pairs go to the movies, go shopping, and do what friends do. Each chapter also holds a group activity monthly.

Best Buddies changes lives. At Archbishop Carroll HS, Buddy Alexis Bucci said, "Even though I am special in some ways, my Buddies treat me like a regular person. I feel like I belong at Archbishop Carroll. I feel very lucky to have a great friend like Taylor." Rosemary Faris, Archbishop Carroll Chapter Advisor, said "Best Buddies has enhanced the lives of all our students!"

Best Buddies is changing perceptions about people with IDD and creating lifelong friendships. Mike Druse volunteered with Best Buddies his sophomore year at Gwynedd Mercy College. He was paired with his Buddy, Mark Graham. For the next three years they were a "Buddy Pair." They went out to eat together, went on double dates and did what friends do. In fact, they were such good friends that for a time they were both dating girls named Kelly. After three years of friendship Mike graduated from GMC but his friendship with Mark continued, because they celebrated their similarities, not their differences. It has now been over three years since Mike’s graduation day, and he recently celebrated another milestone – his wedding day. Celebrating that day with him, looking dapper in his tux, as a member of the wedding party was his Best Buddy Mark.

Best Buddies is a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency that relies on the kindness of individuals, foundations, corporations and government partners to achieve our mission. Best Buddies has chapter and event partnership opportunities available. To inquire about Best Buddies Pennsylvania’s partnership opportunities or learn more, please contact Matthew Stehl, State Director, at (215) 569-0069, via e-mail at matthewstehl@bestbuddies.org or visit www.bestbuddiespennsylvania.org.