Happy Best Buddies Month! Every March, we invite the global Best Buddies community to celebrate the achievements of our volunteers and continue to expand our impact around the world. What started in 1993 as a one-day event has become a month-long celebration promoting one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). To celebrate BB Month, we are highlighting a long time Best Buddies in CT member, James Vaccaro.

James first got involved in Best Buddies in 2007 at his High School Chapter at Jonathan Law High School in Milford, Connecticut. James saw a posting about the club after school, and with some encouragement from his teacher and friends, joined a meeting. What he thought would be a one-time thing quickly turned into something he looked forward to every month, as he was overwhelmed with the positivity and welcoming spirit of his classmates. He was matched in a one-to-one friendship, and he had someone who had his back at school no matter what. For the first time in his life, James was seen for who he truly is, a colorful, caring friend to all. James pushed himself outside of his comfort zone and thrived, and his high school experience was transformed from being a lonely and isolating time to one where he truly blossomed. James’s love for Best Buddies was apparent to his advisors and classmates, and he was made Buddy director in 2008, where he served to advocate for inclusive leadership and helped plan accessible events for his fellow peers with IDD, such as going out a hockey game. “I loved being Buddy director. My friends saw me for more than my disability and gave me a leadership role!” recounts James.

James graduated high school in 2010 and was heartbroken to leave his Best Buddies chapter behind. Little did he know, Best Buddies is a life cycle program! In 2012, James joined our citizen’s program, which helps to create social opportunities and one to one friendships between adults with and without disabilities in the community. “I was so happy and felt so much joy when I learned about citizen’s” says James. Even though he was experiencing the many social adjustments and challenges of entering young adulthood, our citizen’s program provided James with a community and accepting space he could be himself. He was matched in a citizen’s friendship and recounted how his match made him feel special and appreciated. The two would frequently go out to the movies on the weekends and he was included in his community in new and exciting ways. “I feel like I belong at Best Buddies. Being a good friend means inclusion to me” says James.

Like many young people, James thrived online and found a passion for sending emails. In 2011, James found that he could make an impact by reaching out to new friends and Best Buddies Staff members by sending fun daily messages written in color. Not everyone is comfortable connecting in person and talking over the phone can be socially challenging and nerve wracking, but James found that lots of people enjoy communicating over email like him. Without knowing it, James created his own accessible community of friends, and his colorful and friendly emails being a smile to people’s faces.

The Best Buddies Program Manager at the time saw Jame’s knack for e-mails and recommended that he joined E-buddies, which is our virtual friendship program for individuals 13 years old and up. James signed up and was so happy to have a new group of friends who were ready to email back and connect online. Through E-Buddies, James met friends from all around the country and the world saying “E-buddies makes me happy. I love my E-buddies’ friends”. From the outside, E-buddies may seem like a virtual pen pal program, but for James it was so much more, as he was able to connect with more people and make more friends with interests similar to him such as Harry potter and coffee. Over the years since James first joined, E-Buddies shas grown to nearly 5,00 members across the globe who connect in a safe online community and on monthly virtual events such as movie nights and group social hours. “James became well known in the E-buddies community through his emails and posts on the community page, helping him to make friends from all around the country and the world. “I didn’t know I could make so many friends!” James tells us.

Even though the group met virtually, James gained a new kind of confidence that translated offline, and he was inspired to get more involved in Best Buddies Connecticut events. James and his current Citizen’s Buddy, Danny, bonded at the 2023 Friendship Walk in Hartford. “We walked around, played games, talked to people I emailed and took pictures at Dunkin Donuts Park. My favorite Best Buddies memory is going to the walk with Danny” says James. James’s love for the walk and need for community and connection have led him to join the Friendship Walk Committee, where his voice is uplifted, and he gets to help with social media content creation and planning.

Despite his passion for the Friendship Walk, Best Buddies month is James’s favorite time of the year. “Best Buddies month means joy, inspiration, happiness, kindness, and friendship, “according to James. James has become such an important part of our BBCT community over the past 17 years, and he is proof that all you need is one friend to change your world. What began as a curious endeavor into a Best Buddies meeting in high school led to a road of fulfillment, excitement, joy, and advocacy that encouraged James to shine truly. His kindness, friendliness, and willingness to include others and try new things are the heart of Best Buddies that we are celebrating this month and every day. Way to go, James!