Celebrating Four Years of Friendship

Riley and Tom’s friendship is rooted in genuine connection, growth, and community involvement. Both share how they initially became involved with Best Buddies at different stages in their lives. Riley joined in high school and later transitioned into our adult Friendship program, Citizens, where he was “matched with Tom and the rest is history.” Tom, on the other hand, stepped away after similar high school chapter involvement but returned in his mid-to-late 20s, eventually finding Citizens in search of the connection Best Buddies provided to his life. Citizens fosters meaningful friendships between adults with and without disabilities who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to connect. Riley and Tom’s friendship has now flourished for four years!

Together, they emphasize the importance of expanding awareness of Best Buddies, especially among young adults who may not prioritize volunteering early on. They believe that even if people “did not do a lot of volunteer activities in their early 20’s,” simply knowing about the program allows them to “keep it in [the back burner]” and potentially join later.

Riley has played a major role in strengthening the community through creative event planning. He has been “always talking to people about Best Buddies” and bringing “good ideas for outreach.” His event ideas, like Friendsgiving, pumpkin carving, bowling, and park days, have all contributed to increasing participation, with “turnouts…getting better.” Riley and Tom are the foundation of the growing Orange County Citizens Chapter.

When reflecting on their friendship, Tom shared, “First and foremost, Riley, I love having you as my friend.” He explained that Best Buddies has “taught me a lot about community and about inclusivity,” emphasizing that “inclusion is not just like an invite, it’s about being welcomed too…being wanted.” Their bond has grown naturally over time, enriching both of their lives. Tom describes Riley as “a nice rock” during a time when maintaining friendships became more difficult, adding that the experience “has made my life a lot fuller.” Riley simply values “making friends, being social,” capturing the heart of their connection.

We are so excited to see how Tom and Riley’s friendship grows alongside the emerging chapter and the potential for so many more exciting events, peer buddies, and adult pairs. To fill out an application to join our Citizens program, click here.