{"id":179259,"date":"2024-03-29T10:38:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-29T14:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/?p=179259"},"modified":"2024-03-29T10:51:32","modified_gmt":"2024-03-29T14:51:32","slug":"best-buddies-hosts-friendship-balls-across-the-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2024\/03\/29\/best-buddies-hosts-friendship-balls-across-the-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Buddies Hosts Friendship Balls Across the Country"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”179261″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][vc_column_text]Miami, FL, March 29, 2024<\/strong> \u2014 For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across the country, going to a prom or formal is not a guarantee due to social stigmas and isolation.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why Best Buddies International<\/strong>, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment, leadership development, inclusive living and family support for people with IDD, hosts Friendship Balls<\/strong> across the country.<\/p>\n

Friendship Balls are yearly dances held by local Best Buddies branches across the country, sought to provide participants with IDD of all ages a memorable night of dancing, singing and friendship.<\/p>\n

In Aspen, middle and high school participants partied the night away at a local theatre.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first ever, ever, ever prom in my entire life,\u201d Kiah Eklund<\/strong>, a ball-attendee with Down syndrome, told Aspen Public Radio<\/a>. \u201cI’m really excited because you get to have food, mocktails, pictures, dancing and [you get to hang] out with your friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Miami, over 200 local participants attended the \u201cDiving into Friendship: A Sea of Inclusion\u201d-themed event.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Friendship Ball was a rousing success,\u201d Erin Aymerich<\/strong>, a Best Buddies in Miami senior program manager, said. \u201cThe energy and support for the Best Buddies mission was palpable. These events truly drive home what it means to be inclusive.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”179260″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][vc_column_text]In Chicago, the Chesterton High School chapter helped host their annual \u201cKindness Dance\u201d with a local middle school.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt brings me happiness knowing that [students with IDD] have friends,\u201d Juliana Gurrero<\/strong>, a ball-attendee, said to the Chicago Tribune<\/a>. \u201cA lot of them don\u2019t have friends outside of the classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n

And in Ohio<\/a>, over 300 participants from Miami University (Ohio) and other programs around the state gathered to celebrate inclusion. Best Buddies in Ohio also received a $10,000 donation to put toward expanding local programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe a friend to somebody, and you can change the world,\u201d Catlin Skufca<\/strong>, the Best Buddies in Ohio state director, said. \u201cAlso, you can have a heck of a lot of fun while doing it!\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”178883″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][vc_column_text]The success of these Friendship Balls, along with countless others across the country, shows both a need for inclusive, friendship-creating activities and the success of Best Buddies in providing them.<\/p>\n

About Best Buddies<\/u><\/strong>
\nBest Buddies\u00ae<\/sup> is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated\u202fto 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). Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 3,000 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies\u2019 12 formal programs \u2014 <\/span><\/span>Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies\u00ae, Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters, Transitions, Inclusive Living <\/span><\/span>and <\/span><\/span>Eunie\u2019s Buddies<\/span><\/span><\/em>\u2014 engage participants in<\/span><\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/span>each of the 50 states and in 45<\/span><\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/span>countries, positively <\/span>impacting<\/span> the lives of <\/span>nearly one<\/span> million people with and without disabilities around the world.<\/span><\/span> In many cases, as a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit bestbuddies.org or connect with us via Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> or Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Media Inquiries<\/u><\/strong>
\nBest Buddies International<\/strong>
\nNicole Maddox<\/strong>
\nVice President, Communications
\nNicoleMaddox@Bestbuddies.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For people with disabilities, going to a prom is not a guarantee, which is where the Friendship Ball comes in.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2081,"featured_media":179261,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,676,819,4485],"tags":[4663,1919,1843,4584,703,1683],"yoast_head":"\nBest Buddies Hosts Friendship Balls Across the Country - Best Buddies International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For people with disabilities, going to a prom is not a guarantee, which is where the Friendship Ball comes in.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2024\/03\/29\/best-buddies-hosts-friendship-balls-across-the-country\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Best Buddies Hosts Friendship Balls Across the Country - 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