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Friendship (Arizona)

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One-to-One Friendship Programs

Best Buddies Friendship programs represent one of our organization’s four key mission pillars.  These programs build one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), offering social interactions while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion for a population that is often isolated and excluded. Through their participation, people with IDD form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences and activities that many other individuals enjoy.

Join a Chapter
Two participants walking down street together

BESTBUDDIES® Elementary Schools

Builds connections and community between young students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through inclusive activities and social-emotional learning tools that promote one-to-one friendship, acceptance, and interaction at an early age.

Join a chapter
two young best buddies participants with their arms over each others shoulders

BESTBUDDIES® Middle Schools

Fosters one-to-one friendships between middle school students with and without IDD, in which they share interests, experiences, and activities. Students with IDD are often isolated and left out of social activities. Best Buddies Middle Schools helps to create an inclusive middle school culture for all students early on in their educational development.

Join a chapter
two middle school participants smiling

BESTBUDDIES® High Schools

Fosters one-to-one friendships between high school students with and without IDD. In this time of heightened social and emotional development that can be difficult even for teenagers without IDD, the Best Buddies High Schools program helps break through social barriers at an important time in a young person’s life.

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Two female High school students standing back to back and smiling

BESTBUDDIES® Colleges

Fosters one-to-one friendships between college students without IDD and their peers on campus or in the community with IDD. Young adults with IDD historically have been isolated at home or in work environments. The Best Buddies Colleges program is changing this by providing the opportunity for people with IDD to be involved in their local campus and community life.

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two college program participants hugging

BESTBUDDIES® Citizens

Supports the development of friendships between adults with and without IDD in corporate and civic communities. Many people with IDD have limited opportunities for social interactions after they leave the school environment. This program helps people with IDD become part of mainstream society and creates an inclusive and diverse community for all.

Join a program
Two male citizen program members flexing their muscles

e-Buddies ®

e-Buddies provides opportunities for volunteers with and without IDD to develop friendships online and create connections using the power of technology. The program provides the opportunity for members to connect through the e-Buddies social platform, which is designed to expand friendships and create shared experiences through virtual social events. Anyone age 13 and older can participate in e-Buddies. Our program is available throughout the United States and internationally for English-speaking people.

More Info
two ebuddies participants at a computer

How our Friendship programs Work

Matching

A participant with IDD is paired with a person without IDD based on location and shared interest for at least one year of friendship. For school programs, matches typically start at the beginning of the school year.

Meet-ups

Participating in activities and spending quality in-person time together at least twice a month is suggested for buddy pairs of all ages.

Events

Best Buddies Offices and Chapters plan events, host group activities, support friendship matches and are available for onsite support.

Communication

Buddy pairs connect at least once a week by email, phone call, texting, social media or written correspondence.

Email

For e-Buddies, participants communicate via email at least once a week for a year.

Monitoring

Best Buddies staff members maintain regular contact with Friendship program participants to ensure the quality of matched pairs.

Arizona Chapter Listing

Filter by
radius-pinElementary Schools middle-schools-pinMiddle Schoolshigh-schools-pinHigh Schools colleges-pinColleges radius-pin  Citizens program
 
To join a chapter, click a school name below
Elementary Schools
  • Canyon Elementary School (Glendale, AZ)

    API address [ 5490 W Paradise Ln, Glendale, AZ, 853062535-2535, US, null, null, 33.6341769, -112.1762747, null]

  • Chaparral Elementary School (Gilbert, AZ)

    API address [ 3380 E Frye Rd, Gilbert, AZ, 85295-2170, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Cochise Elementary School (Scottsdale, AZ)

    API address [ 9451 N 84th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85258-1836, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Cortina Elementary School (Queen Creek, AZ)

    API address [ 19680 S 188th St, Queen Creek, AZ, 85142-7067, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Finley Farms Elementary School (Gilbert, AZ)

    API address [ 375 S Columbus Dr, Gilbert, AZ, 85296, US, null, null, 33.344631, -111.7424853, null]

  • Gateway Pointe Elementary School (Gilbert, AZ)

    API address [ 2069 S Delatorre Dr, Gilbert, AZ, 85295, US, null, null, 33.313182, -111.6956505, null]

  • Power Ranch Elementary School (Gilbert, AZ)

    API address [ 4351 S Ranch House Pkwy, Gilbert, AZ, 85297, US, null, null, 33.2722492, -111.6967215, null]

  • Rover Elementary School (Tempe, AZ)

    API address [ 1300 E Watson Dr, Tempe, AZ, 85283-3143, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Sousa Elementary School (Mesa, AZ)

    API address [ 616 N Mountain Rd, Mesa, AZ, 85207, US, null, null, 33.428105, -111.5906843, null]

Middle Schools
  • Ashton Ranch Middle School (Surprise, AZ)

    API address [ 14898 W Acoma Dr, Surprise, AZ, 85379, US, null, null, 33.616574, -112.3802598, null]

  • Canyon Junior High School (Glendale, AZ)

    API address [ 5490 W Paradise Ln, Glendale, AZ, 853062535-2535, US, null, null, 33.6341769, -112.1762747, null]

  • Connolly Middle School (Tempe, AZ)

    API address [ 2002 E Concorda Dr, Tempe, AZ, 85282-2999, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Cooley Middle School (Gilbert, AZ)

    API address [ 1100 S Recker Rd, Gilbert, AZ, 85296-1432, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Desert Harbor Middle School (Peoria, AZ)

    API address [ 15585 N 91st Ave, Peoria, AZ, 85382-3543, US, null, null, 33.6257132, -112.2520936, null]

  • Kingman Middle School (Kingman, AZ)

    API address [ 1969 Detroit Ave, Kingman, AZ, 86401, US, null, null, 35.2150519, -114.0323081, null]

  • Madison Meadows Middle School (Phoenix, AZ)

    API address [ 225 W Ocotillo Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85013-1236, US, null, null, 33.5332126, -112.0774669, null]

  • Newell Barney College Prep (Queen Creek, AZ)

    API address [ 24937 South Sossaman Road, Queen Creek, AZ, 85142, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Sahuaro Ranch Elementary (Glendale, AZ)

    API address [ 10401 N 63rd Ave, Glendale, AZ, 85302-1114, US, null, null, null, null, null]

High Schools
  • Apache Junction High School (Apache Junction, AZ)

    API address [ 2525 S Ironwood Dr, Apache Junction, AZ, 85120-7100, US, null, null, 33.3917254, -111.5610367, null]

  • Apollo High School (Glendale, AZ)

    API address [ 8045 N 47th Ave, Glendale, AZ, 85302-6402, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Arizona College Prep (Chandler, AZ)

    API address [ 1150 W Erie St, Chandler, AZ, 85224-4316, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • BASIS Chandler (Chandler, AZ)

    API address [ 4825 S Arizona Ave, Chandler, AZ, 85248-4598, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Betty H. Fairfax High School (Laveen, AZ)

    API address [ 8225 S 59th Ave, Laveen, AZ, 85339-2886, US, null, null, 33.37066860000001, -112.1814908, null]

  • Brophy College Preparatory (Phoenix, AZ)

    API address [ 4701 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85012-1723, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Camelback High School (Phoenix, AZ)

    API address [ 4612 North 28th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85016-4931, US, null, null, 33.50388571317488, -112.02239594050795, null]

  • Campo Verde High School (Gilbert, AZ)

    API address [ 3870 S Quartz St, Gilbert, AZ, 85297-7334, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Casa Grande Union High School (Casa Grande, AZ)

    API address [ 2730 N Trekell Rd, Casa Grande, AZ, 85122, US, null, null, 32.935892, -111.7370588, null]

  • Central High School (Phoenix, AZ)

    API address [ 4525 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85012-1816, US, null, null, 33.502396, -112.07376, null]

  • Chaparral High School (Paradise Valley, AZ)

    API address [ 6935 E Gold Dust Ave, Paradise Valley, AZ, 85253-1447, US, null, null, 33.5782681, -111.9327366, null]

  • Cienega High School (Vail, AZ)

    API address [ 12755 E Mary Ann Cleveland Way, Vail, AZ, 85641, US, null, null, 32.0546855, -110.7205991, null]

  • Copper Canyon High School (Glendale, AZ)

    API address [ 9126 W Camelback Rd, Glendale, AZ, 85305-3116, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Corona del Sol High School (Tempe, AZ)

    API address [ 1001 E Knox Rd, Tempe, AZ, 85284-3204, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Crismon High School (Queen Creek, AZ)

    API address [ 21942 E Riggs Rd, Queen Creek, AZ, 85142, US, null, null, 33.2204009, -111.6104859, null]

  • Deer Valley High School (Glendale, AZ)

    API address [ 18424 N 51st Ave, Glendale, AZ, 85308-1443, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Dysart High School (El Mirage, AZ)

    API address [ 11425 North Dysart Road, El Mirage, AZ, 85335-9233, US, null, null, 33.589575711446614, -112.34040995703099, null]

  • Heritage Academy (Mesa, AZ)

    API address [ 19705 E Germann Rd, Mesa, AZ, 85212, US, null, null, 33.277333, -111.6582855, null]

  • Higley High School (Gilbert, AZ)

    API address [ 4068 E Pecos Rd, Gilbert, AZ, 85295-2529, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • La Joya Community High School (Avondale, AZ)

    API address [ 11650 W Whyman Ave, Avondale, AZ, 85323-8461, US, null, null, 33.4255049, -112.3087228, null]

  • Marcos de Niza High School (Tempe, AZ)

    API address [ 6000 S Lakeshore Dr, Tempe, AZ, 85283-3049, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Metro Tech High School (Phoenix, AZ)

    API address [ 1900 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85015-6051, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Mountain Ridge High School (Glendale, AZ)

    API address [ 22800 N 67th Ave, Glendale, AZ, 85310-4235, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • North Canyon High School (Phoenix, AZ)

    API address [ 1700 E Union Hills Dr, Phoenix, AZ, 85024-3033, US, null, null, 33.6564966, -112.0447493, null]

  • Shadow Ridge High School (Waddell, AZ)

    API address [ 10909 N Perryville Rd, Waddell, AZ, 85355-9713, US, null, null, 33.5846863, -112.4590878, null]

  • Sunnyside High School (Tucson, AZ)

    API address [ 1725 E Bilby Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85706-4430, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Sunrise Mountain High School (Peoria, AZ)

    API address [ 21200 N 83rd Ave, Peoria, AZ, 85382-2436, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Tempe High School (Tempe, AZ)

    API address [ 1730 S Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ, 852816600-6600, US, null, null, 33.409159, -111.9407912, null]

  • Thunderbird High School (Phoenix, AZ)

    API address [ 1750 W Thunderbird Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85023, US, null, null, 33.6128403, -112.0959818, null]

  • Tolleson Union High School (Tolleson, AZ)

    API address [ 9419 W Van Buren St, Tolleson, AZ, 85353-2804, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • West Point High School (Avondale, AZ)

    API address [ 11620 W Encanto Blvd, Avondale, AZ, 85392-5117, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Westview High School (Avondale, AZ)

    API address [ 10850 West Garden Lakes Parkway, Avondale, AZ, 85392-3718, US, null, null, 33.489381626010584, -112.29320550909881, null]

  • Williams Field High School (Gilbert, AZ)

    API address [ 2076 S Higley Rd, Gilbert, AZ, 85295-4793, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Willow Canyon High School (Surprise, AZ)

    API address [ 17901 W Lundberg St, Surprise, AZ, 85388-0281, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Colleges
  • Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)

    API address [ Student Services Bldg, Tempe, AZ, 85287-4106, US, null, null, 33.4169752, -111.9362888, null]

  • Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ)

    API address [ 601 Knoles Dr, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001-0001, US, null, null, 35.1934458, -111.6564193, null]

  • University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)

    API address [ 1010 N Highland Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719-0085, US, null, null, 32.234101, -110.9506404, null]

Citizens
  • Arizona Citizens (Phoenix, AZ)

    API address [ null, Phoenix, AZ, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Arizona State Farm Citizens (Phoenix, AZ)

    API address [ null, Phoenix, AZ, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]

Is your school not listed? Click here for info on how to start a chapter.

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