Best Buddies IN: Empowering Over 55,000 One Friendship At A Time

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Just off of Allisonville Road and 86th Street sits a building in the Castle Creek Business Park, and inside is an office where seven employees, their interns and volunteers gather each day. The work of this group impacts more than 55,000 others throughout Indiana, and over one million people worldwide. This is Best Buddies Indiana, the non-profit's Hoosier headquarters location for the world's largest organization (Best Buddies International) dedicated to empowering and creating opportunities and friendships for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Best Buddies International was founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, and if you aren't familiar with what Best Buddies does, or the non-profit's impact here in Indiana, let me break it down for you:

Best Buddies Indiana was founded in 2002, and has grown into 90 chapters, 5,520 participants, in 33 cities and 22 counties. These participants in Indiana join others throughout the country and globe who are focused on establishing one-to-one friendships, leadership development and integrated employment for people with IDD. In turn, they're putting an end to the physical, social and economic isolation of this group. But more than anything, the non-profit organization focuses on a gift all individuals with or without disabilities should have - friendship.

"Best Buddies fulfills a very basic need all of us have," Marcia Clutter, Deputy Director of Development for Best Buddies Indiana, said.

It’s a need everyone, including the 200 million people with IDD, has every day.

"The simplest thing as having a friend changes lives for people who have obstacles," Clutter said, adding that both members of each Best Buddies pair benefits.

That's 200 million people with IDD that Best Buddies is dedicated to, according to the Best Buddies website.

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Best Buddies Indiana's 5,520 participants come from the organization's Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens and e-Buddies programs, as well as Ambassadors and Promoters. This includes Best Buddies pairs who continue their friendships no matter where they end up, be it graduating from high school, college, or moving out of state.

You may wonder just how this organization impacts more than 55,000 in Indiana alone. I'll let Madison and Emily's story give you an idea:

Madison is in her third year as Mooresville High School's Best Buddies chapter president, and fifth year with Best Buddies. She and Emily (pictured) were paired in 2015.

"I had always admired Emily's spunk and I was very eager to be her friend because of it," Madison said. "She had actually asked me to be her buddy. From then on, Emily and I did everything together. We went to the movies, the mall, sleepovers, bowling, and even her senior prom."

Madison said not only did the two of them have a connection with each other, but also with each other's families, making it hard to lose contact when Emily graduated high school.

"We talked or texted almost everyday," Madison said. "If it wasn't on the phone, then it was through Facebook. Emily loves to express her feelings and excitement on Facebook and take selfies on Snapchat. Emily and I bring out the best in each other."

For many, the initial choice to participate in Best Buddies is to make a difference in the life of the other person. Another reason, as Madison said was her and Emily's, is to begin a friendship with someone different than you.

"We began our friendship because of our differences," Madison said. "But we have thrived because of the same love and compassion that we share."

Madison and Emily's friendship is an example of what Best Buddies does for both members of a buddy pair.

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"People don't realize we're not just doing this for the people with disabilities," Natalie Seibert, State Director for Best Buddies Indiana, said.

Seibert has been with Best Buddies Indiana for almost ten years, and through different positions she's seen how programs throughout the state, and our area, have changed and grown.

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From increasing numbers of participants, chapters and programs, to an evolving staff, the needs at Best Buddies Indiana also change. Best Buddies programs are based on what the organization calls three key mission pillars - One-To-One Friendships, Integrated Employment and Leadership Development. For example, these programs are placed under these pillars:

One-To-One Friendships:

• Best Buddies Middle Schools
• Best Buddies Citizens
• e-Buddies (communication between buddies over email)

Integrated Employment:

• Best Buddies Jobs

Leadership Development:

• Best Buddies Ambassadors
• Best Buddies Promoters

"Our newer program, Best Buddies Citizens is for adults, and we're in need of volunteers without disabilities," Seibert said.

Best Buddies Citizens began in Indiana in 2014, and is a one-to-one friendship program where the organization pairs an adult with IDD with an adult without a disability, but from the same community.

According to Best Buddies Indiana, Citizens is a mutually enriching program, and an opportunity to promote social inclusion and respect. Our state's organization also specifies what friendship expectations and participation include:

• Weekly communication (phone, email, text messages, other)
• Two visits or one prolonged visit each month
• A commitment of one calendar year

Participation requirements include:

• Must be 18 years or older and not involved in the Best Buddies Colleges program
• A completed $15 background check simply to ensure safety of all participants
• Just be a friend!

As a bonus, participants can "become more understanding, patient, and accepting of others within our community" by seeing things from a different perspective. Clutter stresses the need for these one-to-one adult friendships in our community, even if it just means helping Best Buddies Indiana spread the word on how important these are.

Seibert and Clutter encourage community members to also get involved in Best Buddies Jobs, which helps secure jobs for people with IDD, allowing them to support themselves, earn an income and pay taxes, according to Best Buddies.

"A lot of people don't realize why we have that, but it's for adults in need of employment support," Clutter said. "It started here within the last year."

According to Best Buddies, you'll be helping the 84% of adults 18 and older with IDD who do not have a paid job in our community.

Looking for a way to get involved with Best Buddies Indiana outside of a one-to-one friendship? There are several.

"Donate, see if your company matches donations, or see if your HR department knows about Best Buddies, or has a jobs program that would fit with Best Buddies," Clutter said. "We need volunteers for our advisory board, committees, fundraisers, as we're working on broadening our network. We're a staff of seven people, so we need volunteers, corporate chapters, and buddies for our Citizens and e-Buddies programs."

Clutter also said to "like" the Best Buddies Indiana Facebook page as it feeds into their Twitter and Instagram pages, and the buddies are able to see that.

To experience what Best Buddies Indiana is all about, there are several upcoming events and fundraisers scheduled as part of their 4th Annual Champion of the Year Campaign, where nominated candidates compete for eight weeks by fundraising for Best Buddies programs and helping people with IDD. The campaign's Kick-Off Party is 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14 at Bent Rail Brewery.

Thousands of community members also participate in the Best Buddies Indiana Friendship Walk, held every April.

For more information, including the many ways to get involved, donate or volunteer with Best Buddies Indiana, visit bestbuddies.org/indiana/. See how being part of a one-to-one friendship can not only change your buddy's life, but also your's.

(Image via Best Buddies Indiana)