| Last updated on May 20, 2008 |
Best Buddies is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the social isolation of people with mental retardation by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships.
Description:
The Best Buddies program in Connecticut began in 1995 and has since served Connecticut residents through the high schools and colleges program. Now there is also a new Citizens Program which allows people from the corporate and civic sectors to get involved. Each college student or citizen who signs up for Best Buddies will be matched with an intellectually disabled individual, 18 years or older in age. Both individuals in the match make a commitment to see their buddy at least twice a month and make contact at least once a week for one academic year. Pairs are welcome to do anything they would do with any other friend such as go out to the movies, have dinner, or simply hang out at home or elsewhere. Best Buddies works to create mutually enriching friendships so that both members of a match are benefiting from the friendship. Most students find that they benefit more from the relationship than the Buddy.
History:
Since 1995, Best Buddies CT has worked in high schools and colleges across that state. Each year, hundreds of students volunteer to participate in our programs. Year after year, volunteers have reported that they believe they have gotten more out of the experience than their buddies!
Contact person: Meghan Sweeney, Program Manager, (203) 773-9233, (email)
Office fax number: (203) 777-6289
Address:
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52 Whitney Avenue
New Haven, CT 06510
(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.bestbuddiesct.org
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