The Friendship Circle is a unique organization that addresses the challenges facing the families of children with special needs in an innovative way.

The program begins with the pairing of local teenagers with children for weekly “Friends at Home” visits, but hardly ends there. Through a full range of activities and events, the Circle creates its own special environment of friendship and love.

Description:
The Friendship Circle touches so many...
The child with special needs looks forward to weekly visits from his or her teenage friends, as well as the special events they get to attend together throughout the year.

The teenage volunteer learns the value of giving, and cherishes the experience of making a difference in a child’s life. Without exception, the teenager gives of his or her time lovingly, never grudgingly.

The child’s family gets desperately needed respite from the constant strain and drain, and the pleasure of seeing their child become part of the community. They also get to share and interact with others facing circumstances and challenges similar to their own.

The supporter provides the wherewithal for the Friendship Circle to exist. By observing the very obvious difference the program is making to so many lives, supporters of the Friendship Circle make the smiles of these special children their own.

The staff is a team of leaders and professionals for whom the Friendship Circle is a labor of love. Be it through working with the children, teenagers and parents; or planning the various activities; these dedicated men and women are the driving force behind the program.

" The true beauty of the Circle is how we all link together
to form a seamless circle of friendship.”

History:
The French author Victor Hugo wrote, “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” For children with special needs, that idea began in 1994—with the first Friendship Circle in Detroit.

The Friendship Circle began with just eight volunteers visiting three children each week. But it wasn’t long before other teens, children with special needs and their families learned about the program.

They too wanted to join the Friendship Circle, which welcomed them with open arms.

By 2003, the Detroit Friendship Circle had evolved from “a hands-on activity” into a thriving organization with 350 teen volunteers spending time with 150 children with special needs.

Detroit’s success inspired Friendship Circle clubs in cities across the United States, which in turn, led to chapters in Canada, and Australia and now has come to Needham, MA.

Like a stone tossed into a pond (or an idea whose time has come), the ripple effect continues growing all the time.

Contact people:

Chanie Krinsky, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Mendel Krinsky, Chief Financial Officer, (phone), (email)

Address:

472 High Rock Street Needham, MA 02492 (See a map)