The West Virginia University Best Buddies chapter is proving that passion, leadership, and purpose can create a lasting impact no matter where you start. At the 2026 Best Buddies Friendship Walk in Pittsburgh, the chapter earned the title of Top School Fundraising Team after raising more than $4,000 in support of the mission of Best Buddies International.

Leading the way was fundraising officer Maggie Kanee, whose individual efforts brought in more than $2,000, earning her recognition as the event’s Top Individual Fundraiser. Together, these accomplishments highlight not only impressive fundraising totals, but also a chapter deeply committed to inclusion, advocacy, and community building.

In a state where Best Buddies is still expanding and not yet widely recognized, this achievement carries even greater significance. The WVU chapter has worked tirelessly to grow awareness on campus, recruit new members, and create meaningful one-to-one friendships between students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their success in Pittsburgh reflects months of outreach, event planning, social media campaigns, and creative fundraising efforts led by a passionate student leadership team determined to make a difference.

Beyond the fundraising numbers, this milestone represents the true heart of Best Buddies: creating opportunities for connection, belonging, and lifelong friendship. WVU members have built a chapter culture centered on acceptance and empowerment, showing their campus community what inclusion looks like in action. Their work is helping pave the way for future growth across West Virginia and inspiring other schools to get involved.

With this momentum continuing to build, the future looks incredibly bright for WVU Best Buddies. If this year is any indication, this chapter is only getting started.

Interested in being part of something meaningful? Join the movement and become a member at West Virginia University today: https://forms.bestbuddies.org/4903689?ChapterAcctID=0014P00003Iiq0Z