Best Buddies

Goal: $5,000.00

Specific Need

There is a growing need for friendship programs for adults with IDD living Loudoun County and for connections directly in Loudoun County. These funds will be used to expand our adult Friendship Citizens program in Loudoun County, allowing us to reach a larger population of adults with and without disabilities living and working in Loudoun County.

Best Buddies was founded on the idea that everyone deserves a friend.  Best Buddies has embraced this simple philosophy to include that people with IDD deserve to have their voice heard, deserve to have a job they love, and deserve an opportunity to live a meaningful life. As a result of the lack of inclusion and opportunity to gain critical social skills, learned by their peers without disabilities through school and beyond, individuals with IDD are less prepared to enter adulthood with ambitious independent life plans. 

Friendships are an essential facet of humanity, enabling us to learn important social skills, gain self-confidence, and feel supported. Interacting socially with others can be one of the greatest sources of joy and satisfaction in life. However, leading a balanced and fulfilling life can be a daunting prospect for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Statistics show that the average social circle of a person with an IDD is three people, while the average social circle of a non-disabled individual is 125 people. This critical difference leads to isolation, loneliness, and decreased quality of life for those with disabilities.  

The Best Buddies Adult 1:1 Friendship program (called Citizens) is unique in the impact for both adults with, and without disabilities. While we are focused on social inclusion for people with developmental disabilities, a great transformation also happens in our participants without disabilities. When individuals without disabilities learn to appreciate, accept, and help their peers with disabilities, it changes their views, perspectives, and interactions in the entire community. Best Buddies strives to address community need through the power of 1:1 friendships. By establishing mutually enriching friendships based on shared interests, Best Buddies friendships cross the invisible lines that divide our society, and combat the social isolation faced by people with IDD.

Mission

Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Profile

Because of our four-pillar mission approach (friendships, leadership, jobs and inclusive living), participants can be part of the different programs throughout their lives; providing a deep connection to their community and dramatically improving their quality of life. This coordinated approach to social inclusion, self-advocacy, and community connection provides a rich spectrum of connections for an individual with IDD, from their 1:1 friendship match, to a volunteer speech coach in the Ambassador program to friends on a Friendship Walk team.  

Best Buddies in Virginia & DC has recently launched our Best Buddies Jobs Program in Loudoun County. We are currently an approved vendor to provide job development and job coaching supported employment services through Virginia’s Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and have established a new relationship with the Loudoun DARS office for jobs referrals.  By leveraging these new relationships in our jobs programs, and with support from Give Choose 2025 we hope to expand our adult friendship program into Loudoun County to provide meaningful friendship and socialization opportunities to more individuals with IDD.