Jack has had quite the year with Best Buddies Illinois. Jack joined Best Buddies High School program at Neuqua Valley in 2014 and has been part of the Friendship program ever since.

Topher Zheng has been a member of Best Buddies since he was in high school. He attended our Best Buddies Leadership Conference twice…

Jackie and Taylor are both high school students at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois. As anyone who has attended high school knows, finding a niche in the school community can, at first, seem difficult.

Jim is 17 and has been involved in Best Buddies for four years at Pekin Community High School. I want to tell you what a profound and positive impact Best Buddies has made on Jim and our entire family.

On November 3rd Best Buddies hosted a reception to honor long-time supporters, Jay and Colleen Doherty. The evening of celebration and increased awareness for the Best Buddies mission was fueled by a powerful speech given by Jobs Program participant, Taurean Ross.

What a difference a year makes! Just one year ago, Michael was a Buddy in his chapter at Augustana College, enjoying friendships and the chance to become trained as an Ambassador through the Best Buddies Ambassador program.

Students at Avoca West Elementary School in Glenview, Illinois will now know how incredible a Best Buddies made friendship can be.

In November, our Central Illinois office celebrated three years of growing the Best Buddies mission in the region!

I am more selfless because of Best Buddies, and I have so many life-long friends because of Best Buddies. In fact, one of the student leaders was a bridesmaid in my wedding. I love all of the buddies and college buddies.

Ericka Doan is not only a Board Member for our Central Illinois office, she is also a Champion of the Year Nominee for our Champion of the Year campaign currently underway in Peoria. Ericka, a former Best Buddies participant in college, graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science, Communication Disorders and Sciences.