What are the Best Buddies programs?
When people with disabilities 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, providing the necessary tools for people with intellectual disabilities to become more independent and more included in the community.

Best Buddies Middle Schools matches students with intellectual disabilities with other middle school students and creates one-to-one friendships between them.  In today's middle schools, students with intellectual disabilities often enter the same building and walk the same hallways as their peers, but are frequently left out of social activities.

Best Buddies High Schools matches students with intellectual disabilities with other high school students and creates one-to-one friendships between them.  By introducing Best Buddies to public and private high schools, we are crossing the invisible line that too often separates those with disabilities from those without.

Best Buddies Colleges matches people with intellectual disabilities with college students and creates one-to-one friendships between them.  In the past, individuals with intellectual disabilities have not had the opportunity to have friends outside of their own, often isolated, environment. 

Best Buddies Citizens pairs adults with intellectual disabilities in one-to-one friendships with other individuals in the corporate and civic communities.  Without love, support, and friends, our lives would be empty - a life people with intellectual disabilities have been forced to live throughout history.  Volunteers are changing this by simply sharing their time with new friends.

e-Buddies® creates e-mail friendships between people with and without intellectual disabilities.  Using the technology of e-mail, e-Buddies brings additional, unconventional opportunities to people with intellectual disabilities.  Visit our Web site, www.ebuddies.org, to find out more.

Best Buddies Jobs is a supported employment program that secures competitive, paying jobs for people with intellectual disabilities.  The program targets job sites, competitively places individuals, and promotes ongoing support and training.  This enables people with intellectual disabilities to work as respected members of the community in integrated settings.

Why is Best Buddies important?
People with intellectual disabilities are often excluded  from society because of their disability. Best Buddies seeks to change society's perception of people with intellectual disabilities by establishing meaningful friendships which, in turn, help people with intellectual disabilities navigate through life with more confidence and ease.

Who funds Best Buddies?
Best Buddies raises funds through a diverse development effort that includes individual donors, the sale of art and merchandise, special events, government grants, and foundation funding. The annual budget of Best Buddies is nearly $14,000,000.

How did Best Buddies start?
Best Buddies was founded by Anthony K. Shriver in 1987 while he was a student at Georgetown University. In 1989, Best Buddies was incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and expanded to 33 college chapters. Best Buddies of America formally changed to Best Buddies International with the opening of chapters in Greece in 1992.

Where is Best Buddies going in the United States?
Best Buddies has grown tremendously in its short existence. However, most of the country still lacks programs to help people with intellectual disabilities become a part of mainstream society. We would like to bring Best Buddies to all the areas where there is a need; there are more than 7.5 million people with intellectual disabilities in the United States. We have a long way to go, but with the help of volunteers dedicated to our mission, we will continue to grow. If you would like to help us raise the funds necessary to open a Best Buddies office in your state, please sign our guest book.

Is Best Buddies expanding internationally?
We always welcome interest from community leaders who are interested in helping us bring Best Buddies to their regions of the world. For more information on Best Buddies' international programs, please contact: Valerie Vitale at 305-374-2233, ext. 206, or valerievitale@bestbuddies.org.

How can I volunteer?
If you are a middle school, high school, or college student, contact the nearest Best Buddies office to find out if there is a Best Buddies chapter at your school and how to join it.  Your nearest Best Buddies office can also help if there is not a chapter at your school and you wish to start one.  If you would like to volunteer as a Citizen Buddy, and you live in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, or Massachusetts, please contact the appropriate offices to request a Citizens application.  Otherwise, please contact Info@bestbuddies.org.

How can I volunteer without being matched in a friendship?
High school and college chapters generally have a handful of volunteers who are not matched in friendships but assist the chapter. This is at the discretion of the student leader. Otherwise, contact the office nearest you and ask how you can help. We have plenty of opportunities for you to use your talents -- special events, mailings, group outings, etc., -- and we are always looking for volunteers. You can also click here to find out How You Can Help.

I have intellectual disabilities. How can I be a Buddy?
If you are a person with intellectual disabilities, and you would like to be matched in a one-to-one friendship, please contact the office nearest you. We also invite you to join e-Buddies®, our e-mail friendship program, by completing and submitting the online application at www.ebuddies.org.