Best Buddies International is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The purpose of Best Buddies is to include and empower people with IDD by helping them find and use their special abilities and create friendships and relationships with their peers.

Along with this, the goal of Best Buddies is for it’s members who have IDD might eventually live independently and secure jobs. At Saint Joe, our Best Buddies program focuses on fundraising and awareness. This year our chapter is not hosting our on Best Buddies Friendship Walk, but we will be fundraising for and attending Indiana’s Friendship Walk in Lake County. The Friendship Walk is a great opportunity to give back to the community and to learn how to better communicate with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities as they become fully integrated into our society. The most important part of what Best Buddies does is bridge the gap that is created by societal norms.

Through Best Buddies, every person has the opportunity to get to know others on a personal level and break down barriers that we may not have even recognized were built before we were faced with them. As the president of Best Buddies at Saint Joe, our activities are meant to do just that. Next year, I encourage you to become an active member of multiple clubs, but especially Best Buddies because it has a mission that truly impacts people all around the world in a positive way.