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March is Best Buddies Month!<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]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). This month, join us as we celebrate the achievements of our participants and supporters, and continue to expand our mission globally.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]\n

Ways to Celebrate:<\/span><\/h1>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”92040″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]\n

1) Sign up for the Best Buddies Friendship Walk!<\/h2>\n

Our Friendship Walks have made a profound impact in communities nationwide, especially for individuals with IDD. Every Best Buddies Friendship Walk promotes an atmosphere for new friendships, and most of all, inclusion. Sign up during Best Buddies Month to help create communities of inclusion!<\/p>\nFind a Walk Near Me
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2) Ride in a Best Buddies Challenge!<\/h2>\n

Join celebrities, pro-athletes, and cyclists of all abilities at a Best Buddies Challenge. These 5-star events are held in Massachusetts, California, and Florida and feature breathtaking routes, gourmet food, and spectacular concert after-parties.<\/p>\nLearn More<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”170851″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]\n

3) Wear your Best Buddies gear<\/h2>\n

What better way to display the power of our mission than by wearing your Best Buddies apparel? It’s a conversation starter, and one of our biggest creators of awareness, besides you. Don’t have Best Buddies gear? Visit the Best Buddies Shop at shop.bestbuddies.org\/sale<\/a> and get 20% off select items through March 1-7!<\/p>\nShop now
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4) Pledge to spread inclusion<\/h2>\n

Be a teammate. Be a friend. Welcome someone who has been left out. Sit next to someone alone at lunch. Say hello to someone in the hallway. There are so many ways to spread inclusion. Choose yours. Make a pledge and start today. Join us to make inclusion a reality for all people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Make your pledge below.<\/p>\nMake your pledge
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5) Share your Best Buddies story on Social Media<\/h2>\n

Tell the world how Best Buddies has impacted your life and share your story on social media. Be sure to use the hashtag #BestBuddiesMonth and tag @bestbuddies in your posts for a chance to be reshared on our official accounts!<\/p>\n

For those of you not on social media, you can still share your story with us by submitting the form below. We’d love to hear from you!<\/p>\nShare your story<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”162054″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]\n

6) Join e-Buddies<\/h2>\n

If you would love an opportunity to create more connections in a virtual space, then the newly evolved e-Buddies is the place for you!<\/p>\n

e-Buddies is now more than a one-to-one friendship with someone in a different state or even country. e-Buddies members can attend fun virtual events and participate in an e-Buddies social platform that will expand friendships and create shared experiences \u2013 all through using technology!<\/p>\n

When you join you can opt to be matched in a one-to-one friendship or to only participate in our vibrant e-Buddies community through the platform and virtual events.\u00a0 OR you can choose to do it all!\u00a0\u00a0 Whichever option you choose, we look forward to having you become a member of our ever-growing and engaging e-Buddies Community!<\/p>\nLearn More<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”162201″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]\n

7) See Champions (in theaters March 10)<\/h2>\n

Gather your friends together for a screening of Champions.<\/p>\n

Champions stars multiple Best Buddies participants alongside Woody Harrelson in a hilarious and heartwarming story of a former minor-league basketball coach that is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. Harrelson\u2019s character soon realizes that despite his doubts, together, this team can go further than they ever imagined.<\/p>\nWatch Trailer<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”170753″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes”][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]\n

5) Start a Best Buddies Facebook Fundraiser<\/h2>\n

Best Buddies Facebook Fundraisers you create directly support our mission of inclusion. The donations Best Buddies receives are judiciously spent, with the majority of these funds directly used towards the enrichment of our Friendship, Jobs, Leadership Development, and Inclusive Living programs.<\/p>\n

In addition, your effort spreads much-needed awareness for our organization to thrive in your community and around the world.<\/p>\nLearn More<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”143299″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Celebrate and take action! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":170836,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,819],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-143391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-news-front-page"],"yoast_head":"\n