Team Rosemary For Best Buddies

Annual Giving Campaign Honoring Rosemary Kennedy

I started Best Buddies with the simple idea that friendship bridges gaps between people. Having grown up with my aunt Rosemary Kennedy, who had an intellectual disability, I learned at an early age that everyone is capable of something exceptional, especially with the support and encouragement of friends and family. Everyone has a special gift from God, and Rosemary could swim better than anyone in the family. Rosemary proved to be an incredible inspiration by displaying strength and courage in the face of adversity and illustrating to everyone around her that a network of support is the most valuable asset anyone can have, regardless of one’s abilities. Team Rosemary, named in honor of my aunt, is dedicated to providing life-changing opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Best Buddies serves as a lifeline of joy and fulfillment through the promotion of life-long friendships, integrated employment and leadership development. Given these opportunities, people with IDD create a real network of friends, earn income, pay taxes and continuously support themselves. With a friend and a job, you get a kick-start in life! You earn self-esteem, independence, and a place in the community. There is no greater joy than the satisfaction of contributing your time and energy to the enhancement of another person’s life. Team Rosemary offers you the opportunity to know that each and every day, you are making a difference in the lives of people in their communities, across the country and around the world.