{"id":61,"date":"2025-11-10T18:18:46","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T18:18:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/about-best-buddies\/"},"modified":"2025-11-11T16:43:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T16:43:25","slug":"about-best-buddies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/about-best-buddies\/","title":{"rendered":"About Best Buddies"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"61\" class=\"elementor elementor-61\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26057b67 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"26057b67\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bdc7cf5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bdc7cf5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">About Best Buddies<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c36ea7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"4c36ea7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=F4IULAzru-8&quot;,&quot;show_image_overlay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;image_overlay&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.bestbuddies.org\\\/fundraise\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/76\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/mission-video-thumbnail.webp&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:305,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/mission-video-thumbnail.webp);\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-play\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Play Video\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-play\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M838 162C746 71 633 25 500 25 371 25 258 71 163 162 71 254 25 367 25 500 25 633 71 746 163 837 254 929 367 979 500 979 633 979 746 933 838 837 929 746 975 633 975 500 975 367 929 254 838 162M808 192C892 279 933 379 933 500 933 621 892 725 808 808 725 892 621 938 500 938 379 938 279 896 196 808 113 725 67 621 67 500 67 379 108 279 196 192 279 108 383 62 500 62 621 62 721 108 808 192M438 392V642L642 517 438 392Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48ba44e2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"48ba44e2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-575b6874 mission e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"575b6874\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e626b28 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2e626b28\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c1abd42 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2c1abd42\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mission<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4074df97 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4074df97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Best Buddies International 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).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-762748c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"762748c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Who We Serve<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-626092e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"626092e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Best Buddies serves individuals with IDD and their families. The IDD community includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6847283c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6847283c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Programs<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55320f4f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"55320f4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Best Buddies is the\u00a0largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-90796dc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"90796dc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35f43242 mission-heading elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"35f43242\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">BEST<strong>BUDDIES<\/strong><sub>\u00ae<\/sub> <\/br>Five Mission Pillars<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3835dc0c e-con-full elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3835dc0c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72b46d64 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"72b46d64\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b5bb67e mission-pillars elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b5bb67e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">One-To-One Friendships<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d437238 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d437238\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4bf6d3df elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"4bf6d3df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41348e9f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"41348e9f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7767d742 mission-pillars elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7767d742\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Integrated Employment<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67f3fa5b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"67f3fa5b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db1f5d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"db1f5d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-256a24b2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"256a24b2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18d05904 mission-pillars elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"18d05904\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Leadership Development<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d676eb8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3d676eb8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e2ada1f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"7e2ada1f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c301ab3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1c301ab3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6bbc112 mission-pillars elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6bbc112\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Inclusive <br>Living<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-756c2cc7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"756c2cc7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3eac49be elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"3eac49be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ea734a7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3ea734a7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6dfff10b mission-pillars elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6dfff10b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Family <br>Support<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b27f83f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4b27f83f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46203327 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"46203327\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2cebff97 e-con-full e-grid elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2cebff97\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-262aa072 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"262aa072\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2fd29686 mission-pillars elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2fd29686\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">One-To-One <\/br>Friendships<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c668a2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2c668a2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18bc9826 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"18bc9826\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ede9daa e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1ede9daa\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71f9316d mission-pillars elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"71f9316d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Integrated <\/br>Employment<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52fe9289 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"52fe9289\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-777e7d6e elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"777e7d6e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24cd86e1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"24cd86e1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e9ce089 mission-pillars elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5e9ce089\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Leadership <\/br>Development<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37748e3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"37748e3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c964789 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"2c964789\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c457433 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c457433\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c88f470 mission-pillars elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6c88f470\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Inclusive <\/br>Living<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29ef7e4e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"29ef7e4e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c328fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"5c328fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3641b014 e-con-full elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3641b014\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5acea705 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5acea705\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63abfc18 mission-pillars elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"63abfc18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Family <\/br>Support<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f7b1e1a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2f7b1e1a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4472b09f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"4472b09f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68e06adc e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"68e06adc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-158b1e20 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"158b1e20\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-699362cc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"699362cc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-233ac5ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"233ac5ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">One-to-one Friendships<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e1f2dd8 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4e1f2dd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50551490 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"50551490\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Fosters one-to-one friendships between individuals 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 friendship program helps break through social barriers at an important time in a young person\u2019s life.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e22f07f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2e22f07f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34cf5086 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"34cf5086\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"544\" height=\"544\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-friendship-1.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-306\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-friendship-1.webp 544w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-friendship-1-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-friendship-1-150x150.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 544px) 100vw, 544px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c17fd83 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6c17fd83\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-113b03ab e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"113b03ab\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46bdc10 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"46bdc10\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Integrated Employment<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e69ee8b elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"3e69ee8b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e09b9ad elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2e09b9ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Best Buddies Jobs program represents one of our organization\u2019s four key mission pillars, Integrated Employment. This program secures jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), allowing them to earn an income, pay taxes, and continuously and independently support themselves.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8772343 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8772343\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39dee361 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"39dee361\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"544\" height=\"544\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-jobs.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-307\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-jobs.webp 544w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-jobs-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-jobs-150x150.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 544px) 100vw, 544px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2635f429 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2635f429\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f26053c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6f26053c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5218e3fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5218e3fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Leadership Development<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e416900 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"5e416900\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e813692 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1e813692\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Best Buddies Leadership Development programs represents one of our organization\u2019s four key mission pillars. \u00a0The programs educate and empower people with and without IDD to become leaders, public speakers and advocates. Best Buddies passionately believes that its program participants can lead the effort within their community and beyond to build a more inclusive\u00a0world for people with IDD.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b2b6633 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1b2b6633\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2052e8d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2052e8d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"544\" height=\"544\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-leadership.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-308\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-leadership.webp 544w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-leadership-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-leadership-150x150.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 544px) 100vw, 544px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-444426d5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"444426d5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18765dba e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"18765dba\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49ac623 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"49ac623\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Living<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6134ab9a elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6134ab9a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b5ffe9a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3b5ffe9a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Best Buddies Living program represents one of our organization\u2019s four key mission pillars, Inclusive Living. This program fosters an integrated experience for people with and without IDD to become active, contributing citizens who live independently in a dynamic environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f463d2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7f463d2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-207fb154 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"207fb154\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"544\" height=\"544\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-Friendship.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-309\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-Friendship.webp 544w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-Friendship-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-Friendship-150x150.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 544px) 100vw, 544px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43086d30 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"43086d30\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13bff8c6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"13bff8c6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7fa38f68 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7fa38f68\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Family Support<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15fb911a elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"15fb911a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77b2cf16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"77b2cf16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Family Support program represents one of our organization\u2019s five key mission pillars. It provides families access to individual connections and community resources that assist them on their journey of supporting a family member with IDD. Best Buddies is committed to ensuring that individuals of all abilities have the opportunity to thrive.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d7d9c3e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6d7d9c3e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cefa4c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4cefa4c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"544\" height=\"544\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-Family-support.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-310\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-Family-support.webp 544w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-Family-support-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2025\/11\/BB-Family-support-150x150.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 544px) 100vw, 544px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11bd8946 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"11bd8946\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2daceac6 elementor-align-center underline elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"2daceac6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-lg\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Learn more at bestbuddies.org<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About Best Buddies https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=F4IULAzru-8 Mission Best Buddies International 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). Who We Serve Best Buddies serves individuals with IDD and their families. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-61","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/61","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/61\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":317,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/61\/revisions\/317"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/fundraise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}