Students Celebrate their Accomplishments in Service to the Best Buddies Mission
Miami, Florida, April 18, 2018— Best Buddies International, a groundbreaking nonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is excited to announce the Best Buddies South Florida Friendship Ball on April 21 at Marlins Park. The South Florida Friendship Ball is a prom-like event offered for free to South Florida’s 73 school Friendship chapters.
The Friendship Ball is a celebration of the over 600 one-to-one friendship matches made during the school year in South Florida and a thank you to the students and teachers for collectively giving over 120,000 hours of service to furthering the Best Buddies mission. The Ball also allows students of all abilities to enjoy an inclusive prom-like experience.
The prom will run from 6:00pm-10:00pm and is expecting over 1,000 students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, their parents, and teachers, from schools participating in Best Buddies School Friendship and Promoter programs in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
This is a one-of-a-kind event where students come together in friendship for a magical night of dancing, and celebrating a successful school year!
ABOUT BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL:
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 and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 2,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies’ eight formal programs — Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies® , Jobs, Ambassadors, and Promoters — engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 50 countries, positively impacting the lives of more than 1.2 million people with and without disabilities around the world. In many cases, as a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org, facebook.com/bestbuddies or twitter.com/bestbuddies.
For volunteer interest:
Cynthia Bowles
cynthiabowles@bestbuddies.org
For media inquiries (including requests for credentials):
Nicole Maddox
305-374-2233, ext. 343
NicoleMaddox@BestBuddies.org
Amaury Sablon
305-374-2233, ext. 362
AmaurySablon@BestBuddies.org
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