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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.

Iowa 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
  • Ashland Ridge Elementary School (Ankeny, IA)

    API address [ 2600 NW Ash Dr, Ankeny, IA, 50023, US, null, null, 41.75339, -93.6120451, null]

  • Carlisle Elementary School (Carlisle, IA)

    API address [ 430 School St, Carlisle, IA, 50047, US, null, null, 41.49701109999999, -93.4890549, null]

  • Centennial Elementary School (Altoona, IA)

    API address [ 910 7th Avenue Southeast, Altoona, IA, 50009, US, null, null, 41.6418449, -93.45813580000001, null]

  • Crocker Elementary School (Ankeny, IA)

    API address [ 2910 SW Applewood St, Ankeny, IA, 50023, US, null, null, 41.6997565, -93.63492169999999, null]

  • Heritage Elementary School (Ankeny, IA)

    API address [ 301 Southwest Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, IA, 50023, US, null, null, 41.711286, -93.604199, null]

  • Hubbell Elementary School (Des Moines, IA)

    API address [ 800 42nd Street, Des Moines, IA, 50312, US, null, null, 41.5925441, -93.675882, null]

  • Mitchellville Elementary School (Mitchellville, IA)

    API address [ 308 Elm Ave NW, Mitchellville, IA, 50169, US, null, null, 41.6704286, -93.3638479, null]

  • Morris Elementary (Des Moines, IA)

    API address [ 1401 Geil Avenue, Des Moines, IA, 50315, US, null, null, 41.5255065, -93.6363196, null]

  • Perkins Elementary (Des Moines, IA)

    API address [ 4301 College Avenue, Des Moines, IA, 50310, US, null, null, 41.6080206, -93.6769095, null]

  • Valerius Elementary School (Urbandale, IA)

    API address [ 3305 92nd St, Urbandale, IA, 50322, US, null, null, 41.6251165, -93.74311229999999, null]

  • Webster Elementary School (Urbandale, IA)

    API address [ 12955 Aurora Ave, Urbandale, IA, 50323-2464, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • West Willow Elementary School (Cedar Rapids, IA)

    API address [ 6225 1st Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52405, US, null, null, 41.9703918, -91.75258099999999, null]

Middle Schools
  • Carlisle Middle School (Carlisle, IA)

    API address [ 325 Scotch Ridge Rd, Carlisle, IA, 50047, US, null, null, 41.4977254, -93.5015298, null]

  • Evans Junior High School (Ottumwa, IA)

    API address [ 812 Chester Avenue, Ottumwa, IA, 52501, US, null, null, 41.0032004, -92.43485840000001, null]

  • Hoyt Middle School (Des Moines, IA)

    API address [ 2700 E 42nd St, Des Moines, IA, 50317-4006, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Humboldt Middle School (Humboldt, IA)

    API address [ 1500 Wildcat Road, Humboldt, IA, 50548, US, null, null, 42.71506429999999, -94.23230439999999, null]

  • Johnston Middle School (Johnston, IA)

    API address [ 6501 NW 62nd Ave, Johnston, IA, 50131-2932, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Merrill Middle School (Des Moines, IA)

    API address [ 5301 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312-2123, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Parkview Middle School (Ankeny, IA)

    API address [ 105 Northwest Pleasant Street, Ankeny, IA, 50023, US, null, null, 41.7327483, -93.6039402, null]

  • Southeast Polk Junior High School (Pleasant Hill, IA)

    API address [ 8325 North East University Avenue, Pleasant Hill, IA, 50327, US, null, null, 41.5983325, -93.43881189999999, null]

  • Taft Middle School (Cedar Rapids, IA)

    API address [ 5200 E Ave NW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52405, US, null, null, 41.9806716, -91.7382928, null]

  • Urbandale Middle School (Urbandale, IA)

    API address [ 7701 NW Aurora Ave., Urbandale, IA, 50322-1723, US, null, null, 41.63810060000001, -93.72431089999999, null]

  • Weeks Middle School (Des Moines, IA)

    API address [ 901 E Park Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50315-2450, US, null, null, 41.5546679, -93.5999382, null]

  • Winterset Middle School (Winterset, IA)

    API address [ 706 W School St, Winterset, IA, 50273, US, null, null, 41.3213511, -94.0217369, null]

High Schools
  • Adel-Desoto-Minburn High School (Adel, IA)

    API address [ 801 Nile Kinnick Drive South, Adel, IA, 50003, US, null, null, 41.609758, -94.01437969999999, null]

  • Carlisle High School (Carlisle, IA)

    API address [ 430 School St, Carlisle, IA, 50047, US, null, null, 41.49701109999999, -93.4890549, null]

  • Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School (Cedar Rapids, IA)

    API address [ 4545 Wenig Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52402-2212, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Dallas Center - Grimes High School (Grimes, IA)

    API address [ 2555 W 1st St, Grimes, IA, 50111-4928, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Dowling Catholic High School/Ruby Van Meter School (West Des Moines, IA)

    API address [ 1400 Buffalo Rd, West Des Moines, IA, 50265-1626, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Harlan High School (Harlan, IA)

    API address [ 2102 Durant St, Harlan, IA, 51537-1221, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Humboldt High School (Humboldt, IA)

    API address [ 1500 Wildcat Road, Humboldt, IA, 50548, US, null, null, 42.71506429999999, -94.23230439999999, null]

  • Interstate 35 High School (Truro, IA)

    API address [ 405 E North St, Truro, IA, 50257, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Johnston High School (Johnston, IA)

    API address [ 6500 NW 100th St, Johnston, IA, 50131-2932, US, null, null, 41.6739239, -93.7024453, null]

  • Lincoln High School (Des Moines, IA)

    API address [ 2600 SW 9th St, Des Moines, IA, 50315-1909, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Martensdale-St. Marys High School (Martensdale, IA)

    API address [ 390 Burlington Ave, Martensdale, IA, 50160, US, null, null, 41.37514059999999, -93.7388278, null]

  • Mason City High School (Mason City, IA)

    API address [ 1700 4th St SE, Mason City, IA, 50401-4409, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • North High School (Des Moines, IA)

    API address [ 501 Holcomb Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50313, US, null, null, 41.6176713, -93.6228884, null]

  • Prairie High School (Cedar Rapids, IA)

    API address [ 401 76th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404-7035, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Roosevelt High School (Des Moines, IA)

    API address [ 4419 Center St, Des Moines, IA, 50312-2234, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Solon High School (Solon, IA)

    API address [ 600 W 5th St, Solon, IA, 52333-8828, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Southeast Polk High School (Pleasant Hill, IA)

    API address [ 8325 N E University Ave, Pleasant Hill, IA, 50327-8031, US, null, null, 41.6003817, -93.4357697, null]

  • Urbandale High School (Urbandale, IA)

    API address [ 7111 NW Aurora Ave., Urbandale, IA, 50322-1741, US, null, null, 41.6383976, -93.7151111, null]

  • Valley High School (West Des Moines, IA)

    API address [ 3650 Woodland Ave, West Des Moines, IA, 50266-1970, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Waukee High School (Waukee, IA)

    API address [ 555 SE University Ave, Waukee, IA, 50263-8171, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Waukee Northwest High School (Waukee, IA)

    API address [ 655 10th St, Waukee, IA, 50263, US, null, null, 41.6054922, -93.8929565, null]

  • Winterset High School (Winterset, IA)

    API address [ 624 Husky Dr, Winterset, IA, 50273-2268, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Colleges
  • Central College (Pella, IA)

    API address [ 812 University St, Pella, IA, 50219-1902, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Drake University (Des Moines, IA)

    API address [ 2507 University Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50311-4516, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Grand View University (Des Moines, IA)

    API address [ 1500 Morton Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50316-1647, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Iowa State University (Ames, IA)

    API address [ 2229 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA, 50011-7163, US, null, null, 42.0236502, -93.6459454, null]

  • Simpson College (Indianola, IA)

    API address [ Kent Campus Center, Indianola, IA, 50125-1201, US, null, null, 41.366707, -93.5655326, null]

  • University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA)

    API address [ 5 W Jefferson St, Iowa City, IA, 52240-1315, US, null, null, 41.661897, -91.5364924, null]

  • University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA)

    API address [ 1227 W 27th St, Cedar Falls, IA, 50614-0012, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Upper Iowa University (Fayette, IA)

    API address [ 605 Washington St, Fayette, IA, 52142-9206, US, null, null, null, null, null]

  • Wartburg College (Waverly, IA)

    API address [ 100 Wartburg Blvd, Waverly, IA, 50677-2215, US, null, null, null, null, null]

Citizens
  • Iowa Citizens - Des Moines Metro Area (Windsor Heights, IA)

    API address [ 7518 Hickman Rd, Windsor Heights, IA, 50324, US, null, null, 41.61399110000001, -93.72060189999999, null]

  • Sammons Financial Citizens (Des Moines, IA)

    API address [ null, Des Moines, IA, 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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