Best Buddies International Statement On The Best Buddies Racing Team
MIAMI, September 20, 2022 – Best Buddies International, a nonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver to create opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), congratulates the Best Buddies Racing Team on an incredible two-years of racing with a purpose by competing in elite bike races across the U.S. to illuminate the skills and people within the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) community.
Since its inception in 2021, the Best Buddies Racing team has won two National Championships, more than 30 national-level races, and impacted 53 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the Best Buddies program.
“I am extremely proud of what the Best Buddies Racing team was able to accomplish over the past two years,” said Michael Hernandez, former team captain, Best Buddies Racing. The team’s on-the-bike success speaks for itself, but what touched my heart the most is how every one of our team members fully embraced the mission of Best Buddies and truly cared about each of the participants who came to support us at the races.”
“Everyone remembers the first time they learned how to ride a bike and the immense joy and freedom that came along with it,” said Anthony K. Shriver, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Best Buddies International. Over the past two years, the Best Buddies Racing team has created a strong foundation built on inclusion and sheer passion to increase awareness about the Best Buddies mission, while expanding the organization’s efforts to open up the world of cycling to a new generation of riders. We are grateful for the teams’ efforts and look forward to the launch of our new professional cyclists Ambassador initiative led by four-time Tour De France champion Chris Froome and Tom Pidcock, in addition to exciting new developments that will complement the Best Buddies Challenges and Best Buddies Breakaway Camps cycling initiatives.
Best Buddies will retire the racing team and shift its focus to building a more inclusive cycling community by engaging diverse, prospective, and new riders while promoting our mission of one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 3,000 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies’ nine formal programs — Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies®, Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters and Inclusive Living — engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 47 countries, positively impacting the lives of nearly 1 million people with and without disabilities around the world. In many cases, 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, Facebook, or Twitter.
