The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh, Inc.

The Friendship Circle is dedicated to integrating children and young adults with special needs more fully into the broader community. The program engages children and young adults with and without special needs in a full range of social activities. The Friendship Circle aims to enrich the lives of all participants through mutually advantageous interactions, creating lasting friendships, which consequently strengthen both the Jewish and greater community.

A pair of carefully matched volunteers visits a friend with special needs in his or her home each week to hang out and get to know each other through play. This program enables young people who may not have regular opportunities for playdates to spend time with friends outside of school in a comfortable setting.