Best Buddies in New Mexico Jobs Participant Inspires Community

Albuquerque, NM, March 20, 2024 — Gracie Flanagan, a participant of Best Buddies in New Mexico, the state branch of Best Buddies International, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), has worked at Dion’s Pizza since the summer of 2023 thanks to Best Buddies Jobs.

At Dion’s, Gracie, who has an IDD, works as a dining attendant, where she prepares and cleans tables and seats guests. Gracie works part-time, has flexible schedule and receives benefits including paid sick leave, mental health services access through their Employee Assistance Program and free food after a shift.

Gracie was recently spotlighted on two local news stations. Watch her amazing story here and here. Read our Workplace Wednesday feature on Gracie here.

About Best Buddies
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, inclusive living, and family support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. 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’ 12 formal programs — Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies®, Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters, Transitions, Inclusive Living and Eunie’s Buddies— engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 45 countries, positively impacting the lives of nearly one 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 bestbuddies.org or connect with us via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.