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Best Buddies Friendship WalkBest Buddies Friendship Walk
Best Buddies Friendship WalkBest Buddies Friendship Walk
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About Jeremiah Angel

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Jeremiah Angel has contributed 6 entries to our website, so far.

Thank You Message

Thank You!

Thank you for participating in this year’s Friendship Walk! Because of your amazing efforts, we were able to raise vital funds and awareness to sustain and expand our local Best Buddies programs. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s event. With your support, our mission of friendship and inclusion is stronger than ever!

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Friendship Walk T-shirt available for purchase?
The official Best Buddies Friendship Walk T-shirt is a badge of honor, so to speak, and is only given in recognition to walkers that raise $50 or more. (And how awesome would that be if EVERY registered walker earned one?  Let’s make that happen!)
I made a $50 donation to my child’s fundraising page – will I get a T-shirt?
Thank you! Your donation will count towards your child’s fundraising total so he/she will be the one who earns the T-shirt.  (But maybe your generosity will earn you Parent-of-the-Year!)
Do you accept cash or check donations?
You bet we do! Simply bring it with you to the walk, or visit your local Best Buddies office. Either way, you’re awesome for asking 🙂
Can I volunteer at the event?
Absolutely! Volunteers are needed to assist with event planning, day-of support, and more. If you are interested in volunteering, visit the link below to receive more info regarding volunteer opportunities.
Sign up to volunteer at www.bestbuddies.org/volunteer/.
What is your data privacy policy?
Best Buddies does not sell, share, or rent personal information collected through our website’s registration or donation forms. For more information, visit bestbuddies.org/privacy-policy.

Tik Tok While You Walk Challenge

TikTok While You Walk Challenge

Win an all-expenses-paid VIP trip and Post Malone concert experience for you and a friend.

To Enter the Challenge:

  • Share a public TikTok video walking for Best Buddies to a Post Malone song. Videos must tag @bestbuddieshq and include the hashtag #mywalkforinclusion and a link to your walk fundraising page.
  • Videos will be judged based on creativity and overall enthusiasm for the Best Buddies mission of inclusion.
  • Best Buddies will announce the winning TikTok on December 15th, 2020.

Anthony K. Shriver on TikTok

Anthony K. Shriver(@anthonykshriver) has created a short video on TikTok with music Wow.. Let's keep the walk party going with #mywalkforinclusion! Best one gets a VIP experience with @postmalone 🕺🏼

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Friendship Walk still happening in 2020?
Yes! We are excited to share a concept that’s unique, captivating and different than anything we’ve ever done: The Best Buddies Virtual Friendship Walk! Join Best Buddies Founder and CEO, Anthony Kennedy Shriver, along with participants, buddies, celebrities, athletes and more on June 20, 2020 as we Walk For Inclusion. Saturday, June 20, 2020 (Opening Ceremonies starts at 11:15a on the Best Buddies state’s Facebook page)
What is a Virtual Walk?
A Virtual Walk is your chance to safely join people from all over the world as we walk for inclusion, friendship and acceptance. It’s a chance for you to watch our founder, Anthony Kennedy Shriver, celebrities and many more take part in a special day dedicated to the mission of Best Buddies.
How can I get involved with the Virtual Walk?
Anyone, from any part of the U.S. (or world for that fact) can join us as we virtually walk for the Best Buddies mission. Register for a walk in your area and create your fundraising page. Our goal is to raise money so we sustain the current programs we offer in the local area – and expand our programs to create a better world for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Is the Friendship Walk T-shirt available for purchase?
The official Best Buddies Friendship Walk T-shirt is a badge of honor, so to speak, and is only given in recognition to walkers that raise $50 or more. (And how awesome would that be if EVERY registered walker earned one?  Let’s make that happen!)
I made a $50 donation to my child’s fundraising page – will I get a T-shirt?
Thank you! Your donation will count towards your child’s fundraising total so he/she will be the one who earns the T-shirt.  (But maybe your generosity will earn you Parent-of-the-Year!)
I would like to learn about sponsorship opportunities. How do I get in touch with someone?
Great, thanks for the interest! Please contact us at the bottom of our homepage here.

Walk Video

Why We Walk

Why We Walk

New to Best Buddies?  Here’s what we’re all about.

We’re in the business of making room for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In Our Schools

In Our Workplaces

In Our Communities

In Our Homes

We all have something amazing to bring to the table. Sometimes all we need is someone to invite us to pull up a seat.

Friendship Program

We all love our best friends. We talk on the phone, meet for coffee, catch a movie, crack corny jokes and eat too many nachos. In a nutshell, we do life together.

But not everyone has a best friend. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities can struggle to make connections on their own.  The need for belonging is essential – without it, there’s nothing but loneliness and isolation.

Best Buddies is here to make sure everyone has a sidekick. Someone who knows your favorite ice cream flavor, surprises you on your birthday, picks you up when you’re down, and knows what makes you amazing. After all, isn’t that what we all want?

Friendship buddy pair image

Jobs Program

We can all agree a payday is a good day, right? How else would you pay for essentials like rent and electricity? Or buy that new video game or the latest pair of Nikes?

But here’s a statistic for you: 81% of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are unemployed. Let’s think about that for a second. No paycheck means more than not being able to pay bills. Having a job gives you dignity and a sense of worth.  Keeps your body and mind moving. Gets you plugged in the community.

Best Buddies is out to change the odds. We want to make sure everyone has a job that matches their skills and interests. Our job placement and coaching game is on point. We don’t like to brag, but our retention rate is 97.5%. At the end of the day, it pays off in a business sense and a human one. And let’s face it, being able to buy yourself a new iPhone is pretty awesome, too.

Jobs participant photo

Leadership Development Program

What is our potential, if no one ever tells us we have any? What are our dreams, if no one else can see them? How about our goals, if no one thinks you can reach them? Make no mistake, having a disability doesn’t take away the desire to achieve.

To quote Martin Luther King, Jr: “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be.”

We’re all in this together. So here at Best Buddies, we firmly believe leadership development is the key to everyone’s success. Our leadership programs build the necessary skills to guide others, influence opinions and policy, and become role models for peers and younger generations. Sometimes all we need is a platform to find our voice and discover our potential.

Because when someone believes in you, it becomes a lot easier to believe in yourself.  By unlocking potential, we don’t let dreams remain dreams.

Living Program

The Best Buddies Living program represents one of our organization’s four key mission pillars, Inclusive Living. This program fosters an integrated experience for people with and without IDD to become active, contributing citizens who live independently in a dynamic environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive.

The Best Buddies Living program encourages people with and without IDD to live together in a vibrant community that is focused on supporting all residents in accomplishing their life goals and dreams.