Best Buddies International
Encyclopedia
Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. It consists of volunteers that attempt to create opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is an international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,500 college, high school and middle school campuses across the country and internationally.
When people with IDD are unable to attain or maintain a job, it is most often due to an absence of social skills rather than an inadequacy to perform the work required. Best Buddies introduces socialization opportunities and job coaching, to aid people with IDD to become more independent and integrated into the community.
. It consists of several annual events in the United States
in which participants cycle, walk or run. Participants are encouraged to participate along side their Best Buddies, those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Members of the Kennedy-Shriver family attend all of the events, as do other celebrities and Olympians who support the organization.
. The event includes a 100, 50, or 20-mile bike ride through the New England countryside, or a 3K walk or 5K run.
. The event includes 100, 62 (100 km), 30, and 15-mile courses down the Pacific Coast Highway, or a 3K walk or 5K run.
with her sons Anthony and Timothy.
Best Buddies and Special Olympics
sponsored for the inaugural Eunice Kennedy Shriver Challenge , presented by Audi
in 2010 in Washington, D.C.
.
There was a 20 miles (32.2 km) bike ride through Washington DC and the surrounding areas of the Nation's Capital, or a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) walk or 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) run. The event was followed by a luncheon on the National Mall.
became the exclusive automotive sponsor of Best Buddies International. The five-year partnership supports projects within the Americas as well as fundraising events in Europe and overseas.
Through Audi
sponsorship, Best Buddies International was able to raise more than US$11.8 million for Best Buddies programs from events in Palm Beach, Hyannis Port, Hearst Castle, New York, Washington and Miami in 2008. The “Friendship Drives” in Las Vegas and Miami generated more than 500 test-drives and leads.
The partnership started with the introduction of the Audi RS4
Friendship Car designed by Romero Britto
. Introduced in April 2007 at Art Chicago
, the car toured cities between New York and Mexico City, culminating in Miami, where it was sold at a live auction benefiting the charity.
Audi
is the title sponsor of the Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle in California and the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port in Massachusetts. In addition to being the title sponsor for these Challenges, Audi is featured at all other Best Buddies national events. Best Buddies and Audi also collaborate on a variety of cause marketing
programs throughout the year that take place on both the national and regional levels.
In 2007, Anthony Kennedy Shriver announced in Doha, Qatar opened a new accredited program in collaboration with the Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs, a nonprofit charitable organization.
The Millennium School in Dubai
has developed a Best Buddies program.
Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is an international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,500 college, high school and middle school campuses across the country and internationally.
Programs
Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States. They have accredited international programs on six continents with additional country programs under active development. They have seven formal programs – Best Buddies Citizens, Colleges, e-Buddies®, High Schools, Jobs, Middle Schools and Ambassadors. These programs have affected more than 700,000 individuals in 2009.When people with IDD are unable to attain or maintain a job, it is most often due to an absence of social skills rather than an inadequacy to perform the work required. Best Buddies introduces socialization opportunities and job coaching, to aid people with IDD to become more independent and integrated into the community.
Best Buddies Citizens
Best Buddies Citizens matches people with IDD with individuals in the corporate and civic communities.Best Buddies Colleges
Best Buddies Colleges pairs people with IDD with college students. By becoming a College Buddy, volunteers offer a Peer Buddy the chance to explore a new way of life. College chapters have grown from one single chapter at Georgetown to active chapters on more than 425 campuses worldwide.Best Buddies Jobs
Best Buddies Jobs helps individuals attain and maintain jobs of their own choosing by providing ongoing support and training, enabling people with IDD 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
Started in 2001, Best Buddies Middle Schools have chapters in 145 middle school campuses pairing students with IDD.e-Buddies®
e-Buddies® is an e-mail pen pal program designed for people with IDD, 10 years old and up, and peer volunteers.Best Buddies Ambassadors
Best Buddies Ambassadors is intended to train people with IDD to be leaders and public speakers in their schools, communities, and workplace. It is intended to be a part of the Disability Rights Movement - teaching people with IDD the skills needed to successfully self advocate. The program is intended to prepare people with IDD to become active agents of change.Best Buddies Challenge
The Best Buddies Challenge is the organization's largest fundraising initiative, sponsored by German car manufacturer AudiAudi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
. It consists of several annual events in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in which participants cycle, walk or run. Participants are encouraged to participate along side their Best Buddies, those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Members of the Kennedy-Shriver family attend all of the events, as do other celebrities and Olympians who support the organization.
Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port
The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port occurs annually in June. The course runs from Boston, Massachusetts to Hyannis Port, MassachusettsHyannis Port, Massachusetts
Hyannis Port is a small residential village located in Barnstable, Massachusetts, and Hyannis, Massachusetts. It is an affluent summer community on Hyannis Harbor 1.4 miles to the south-southwest of Hyannis.-Community:...
. The event includes a 100, 50, or 20-mile bike ride through the New England countryside, or a 3K walk or 5K run.
Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle
The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle occurs annually in September. The course runs from Carmel, California to San Simeon, CaliforniaSan Simeon, California
San Simeon is a census-designated place on the Pacific coast of San Luis Obispo County, California. Its position along State Route 1 is approximately halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, each of those cities being roughly 230 mi away...
. The event includes 100, 62 (100 km), 30, and 15-mile courses down the Pacific Coast Highway, or a 3K walk or 5K run.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver Challenge
Leadership has been provided by Eunice Kennedy ShriverEunice Kennedy Shriver
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, DSG a member of the Kennedy family, sister to President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward Kennedy, was the founder in 1962 of Camp Shriver, and in 1968, the Special Olympics...
with her sons Anthony and Timothy.
Best Buddies and Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
sponsored for the inaugural Eunice Kennedy Shriver Challenge , presented by Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
in 2010 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
There was a 20 miles (32.2 km) bike ride through Washington DC and the surrounding areas of the Nation's Capital, or a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) walk or 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) run. The event was followed by a luncheon on the National Mall.
Budget
89% of all revenue goes directly to Best Buddies programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), while only 11% is spent on administration and fundraising.needs WP:RELY citation}}Expenditures
- $8,500: Secures a job for a Best Buddy
- $7,500: Funds a High School or College Chapter
- $6,500: Funds a Middle School Chapter
- $2,000: Sponsors a Citizens Buddy Pair
- $1,000: Funds a student to attend our Student Leadership Conference
- $500: Sponsors an online e-Buddies Pair Conference
- $300: Supports a High School Chapter Training
- $150: Sponsors a campus-based Buddy Pair
Audi Partnership
In June 2007, AudiAudi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
became the exclusive automotive sponsor of Best Buddies International. The five-year partnership supports projects within the Americas as well as fundraising events in Europe and overseas.
Through Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
sponsorship, Best Buddies International was able to raise more than US$11.8 million for Best Buddies programs from events in Palm Beach, Hyannis Port, Hearst Castle, New York, Washington and Miami in 2008. The “Friendship Drives” in Las Vegas and Miami generated more than 500 test-drives and leads.
The partnership started with the introduction of the Audi RS4
Audi RS4
The Audi RS4 quattro is the top tier and highest performing version of some specific generations of the Audi A4 range of automobiles. It is a sports-focused compact executive car , produced by Audi's high-performance private subsidiary quattro GmbH, in limited numbers, for German car manufacturer...
Friendship Car designed by Romero Britto
Romero Britto
Romero Britto is a Brazilian Neo-pop artist, painter, serigrapher, and sculptor. He combines elements of cubism, pop art and graffiti painting in his work. He is known for his contemporary work. Britto has lived in Miami, Florida since 1989...
. Introduced in April 2007 at Art Chicago
Art Chicago
Art Chicago is an international contemporary art exhibition held each year in Chicago, Illinois. It is Chicago's longest-running and only remaining major contemporary art exposition.-History:...
, the car toured cities between New York and Mexico City, culminating in Miami, where it was sold at a live auction benefiting the charity.
Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
is the title sponsor of the Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle in California and the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port in Massachusetts. In addition to being the title sponsor for these Challenges, Audi is featured at all other Best Buddies national events. Best Buddies and Audi also collaborate on a variety of cause marketing
Cause marketing
Cause marketing or cause-related marketing refers to a type of marketing involving the cooperative efforts of a "for profit" business and a non-profit organization for mutual benefit. The term is sometimes used more broadly and generally to refer to any type of marketing effort for social and...
programs throughout the year that take place on both the national and regional levels.
International
Best Buddies is attempting to create relationships with organizations in countries in the Middle East.In 2007, Anthony Kennedy Shriver announced in Doha, Qatar opened a new accredited program in collaboration with the Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs, a nonprofit charitable organization.
The Millennium School in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
has developed a Best Buddies program.
External links
- Best Buddies International
- e-Buddies®
- Best Buddies Challenge
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver Challenge
- Jim Caple's (ESPN.com) article on the 2007 Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle Challenge
- "The Handicapped's Best Buddy". The Saturday Evening PostThe Saturday Evening PostThe Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
. April 1, 1991. - People Magazine- Best of Buddies