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Best Buddies International Launches Exhibit at the Miami International Airport 

Miami, February 14 , 2011 - Best Buddies International, a groundbreaking nonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is pleased to announce a partnership with the MIA Galleries of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, Division of Fine Arts & Cultural Affairs, to launch a Best Buddies International exhibit at the Miami International Airport.

The exhibit will be displayed in the airport’s Concession Hall in the South International Wing, between Terminals H and J, from December through July. It will feature information on Best Buddies and twelve large (4’6” x 5’10”) black and white images of the following Best Buddies participants and celebrity supporters:

• Lia Muchin, Global Ambassador Cindy Crawford & Caelyn Griffith | Photographed by Lyndie Benson
• Chris Bosh & Thomas Beguiristain | Photographed by Jeffery Salter - Special Thanks to Jason Binn & Niche Media
• Lucas Rhyneer & High School Volunteer Eunice K. Shriver II | Photographed by Jeffery Salter
• Derek Company & Global Ambassador Rob Lowe  | Photographed by Lyndie Benson
• Rocky Sun & Pierce Brosnan  | Photographed by Lyndie Benson
• Global Ambassador Kenny G & Lia Muchin | Photographed by Lyndie Benson
• Chris Harrington & Global Ambassador Tom Brady | Photographed by Robert Hinrichs
• Jasmine Garcia & Global Ambassador Sugar Ray Leonard | Photographed by Lyndie Benson
• Vera Koloskova & Global Ambassador Russian Singer Gluk`oZa | Photographed by Vladimir Shirokov   
• Jorge Morilla & Anthony K. Shriver, Founder, Best Buddies International  | Photographed by Jeffery Salter
• Global Ambassador Romero Britto & Chris Gay | Photographed by Jeffery Salter
• Caelyn Griffith & Global Ambassador Cindy Crawford | Photographed by Lyndie Benson

Several million passengers will pass through the terminal during this period, providing Best Buddies with a momentous opportunity to share its mission of inclusion with them - and ideally - encourage them to “Commit to Serve.”

Additionally, the MIA Galleries has graciously offered to air a 30-second Best Buddies PSA voiced by Louis Aguirre, the host of WSVN’s “Deco Drive,” on the airport’s CNN network for the duration of the exhibit. It also sent announcement mailers to its contacts and distributed bookmarks throughout the airport, in order to help spread the word about Best Buddies and the exhibit.

Best Buddies is extremely grateful to Dr. Yolanda Sanchez, Director of the Airport Fine Arts & Cultural Affairs at the Miami International Airport, and her staff for their hard work and dedication to making this wonderful opportunity into a reality for Best Buddies. Best Buddies would also like to extend its sincere thanks to the entire staff at Miami International Airport, and challenge other airports across the nation to consider launching a Best Buddies exhibit of their own!

For additional information on the exhibit, or to launch one of your own, please contact Litz Emmanuel, Merchandise and Art Manager, Best Buddies International, at 305-374-2233 ext. 227 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For media inquiries, please contact Maria Elena Levrant, Media Relations Coordinator, Miami-Dade Aviation Department at 305-876-7017 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Heather Schatz, Communications Director, Best Buddies International, at 305-374-2233, ext. 207 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

About Best Buddies International:

Best Buddies_® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to close to 1,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies seven formal programs – Colleges, High Schools, Middle Schools, Citizens, e-Buddies_® , Jobs and Best Buddies Ambassadors  - engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 50 countries, positively impacting the lives of nearly 700,000 people with and without disabilities and their respective network of family, friends, and employers. As a result of their involvement with Best

Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org.

Miami International Airport:

Miami International Airport (MIA) is operated by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department and is the property of Miami-Dade County government.  Founded in 1928, MIA is the largest U.S. gateway for Latin America and the Caribbean and is one of the leading international passenger and freight airports in the world.  Located on 3,230 acres of land near downtown Miami, MIA’s terminal is being expanded to more than seven million square feet through a capital improvement program scheduled for completion in the winter of 2011.

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