Best Buddies Utah

PARK CITY - YOU'VE BEEN WAITING! WAIT NO MORE! BEST BUDDIES HAS ARRIVED!

Best Buddies is an organization established in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver.  At the high school level, Best Buddies operates as a student-run club, which fosters friendships between students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their peers.  At the college level, Best Buddies pairs college student volunteers with adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.

How Best Buddies Works:

An individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities is matched with a volunteer buddy

Buddy pairs talk once a week via phone, email, or in person

Pairs spend time with each other at least twice a month

Pairs attend one group activity with other pairs from their area or school once per month

 

Benefits of participating in Best Buddies:

• Socialization:  Individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities benefit from positive peer relationships which leads to greater self-confidence and stronger communication skills.
• Awareness:  Volunteers gain a heightened awareness of issues that individuals with disabilities face on a daily basis. Volunteers not only make a difference in their buddy’s life; they make a difference in their own.
• Inclusion:  By participating in Best Buddies, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are better able to interact with others, hold rewarding jobs, and function as active and contributing members of society.

Where is Best Buddies?  Best Buddies already has nine high school and four college chapters in Utah. We have over 700 participants involved in our programs, with a positive impact on the lives of over 7,000 children and adults statewide. AND NOW WE'RE EXPANDING INTO PARK CITY WITH 3 NEW SCHOOL CHAPTERS!