Club Background

Taft College Best Buddies

Club Background

History of Best Buddies

Best Buddies ® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one to-one friendships and integrated employment.

Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,000 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally.

Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States. We have accredited international programs on six continents with additional country programs under active development.

Our six formal programs – Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e -Buddies and Jobs – will positively impact more than 250,000 individuals this year. Best Buddies also is systematically implementing our 2010 initiative that will witness the organization's continued significant growth, both domestically and overseas.

OUR MISSION

To provide an opportunity for college students to be matched in a one-to-one friendship with individuals who have intellectual disabilities.

Social experiences and relationships are a part of life; unfortunately,

individuals with intellectual disabilities have historically been excluded from many of the social opportunities that most people enjoy.

By becoming a buddy- you will not only make a new friend, you will learn about yourself in the process.

"I SEE YOU"

A customary greeting in central Africa, “I see you” is a brilliant recognition of the individual. At Best Buddies, we see people with intellectual disabilities as equals, as co-workers and as friends. To find out more, visit www.bestbuddies.org.