Boardwalk Buddy Walk Challenge - $3000 in 3 weeks!

Our Mighty Cause:  To provide meaningful employment to young adults with special needs

Please join us in our mighty effort to provide meaningful employment to young adults with special needs.  Since the Boardwalk Buddy Walk started in 2006, our goal has been to create a community where people with Down syndrome and other Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDDs), can live, work and play.  We have contributed almost $500,000 to organizations that provide educational, occupational or social services to people IDDs.  Now we want to change the way small businesses hire people with special needs.

We are partnering with Tom Landis from Howdy Homemade Ice Cream to open a franchise, staffed by young workers with special needs, in Rehoboth Beach.  

Tom has worked with numerous special needs organizations to hire, train and employ people with Down syndrome and autism. Every aspect of Howdy Homemade encompasses the special needs of the huge under-employed segment of our population.

Howdy Homemade’s employees are learning more than just how to scoop ice cream. They are gaining important financial skills, including how to start their own bank accounts, how to get their own credit cards and set up direct deposits, in addition to actively contributing to the local economy.  They are also developing confidence, social skills and motivation that will radiate throughout the community.

Landis sees his employees going on to become productive employees at other businesses. “They weren’t able to hold a job 14 months ago, but now someone will come in and say, ‘we’ll pay you a dollar more if you come work for us,’” he said.

The Boardwalk Buddy Walk Fund will provide the initial funding.  The good news is we have $110,000.  The bad news is we need $200,000 to $250,000.  We

 have applied for a grant through A Community Thrives, part of the USA Today network.  In order to qualify, we must demonstrate our ability to fund raise.

You can participate between July 19th and August 13th by making a donation to the Boardwalk Buddy Walk Fund by clicking the Donate button above. 

Whether we qualify or not, all donations will go to the Boardwalk Buddy Walk.  So, if you were going to make a donation to the Boardwalk Buddy Walk, by going through A Community Thrives, we may get an extra bang for your buck.

You will still need to register for the October 9th Buddy Walk to reserve your free t-shirt(s).  We will credit your donations to your Buddy Walk team registration page.

The Boardwalk Buddy Walk Fund is a 501(c)3 charitable organization.  All donations are tax deductible according to IRS rules.