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Anthony K. Shriver
Anthony Kennedy Shriver is the Founder and Chairman of Best Buddies International, which he created in 1989 to foster one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual disabilities. Recognizing the tremendous volunteer potential of university students, Mr. Shriver first inspired his college peers to personally collaborate in expanding the realm of opportunities that persons with intellectual disabilities should experience.
Today, through Mr. Shriver's stewardship and entrepreneurial spirit, Best Buddies® has grown into a leading nonprofit entity with increasing international reach across six continents – creating mutually enriching one-to-one friendships and integrated employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.
Best Buddies is comprised of six programs that will positively impact more than 350,000 participants this year. The organization is active in each of the 50 United States, and operates accredited international programs in: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, England, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. By 2010, Best Buddies will continue to build on its successful volunteer base in all 50 States, further expand its accredited international programs to 50 countries and annually engage more than 500,000 people worldwide.
A graduate of Georgetown University, Mr. Shriver has been recognized for his work on behalf of Best Buddies International with such honors as the 2005 Excellence in Mentoring Award for Programmatic Leadership; the 2004 President's Call to Service Award by the President of the United States' Council on Service & Civic Participation; the 1999 Jefferson Award for Greatest Public Service by an Individual 35 Years or Younger; the 1998 Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award; and an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Loyola College. Mr. Shriver additionally is a founding member of the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders.
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