{"id":177747,"date":"2024-02-14T08:43:52","date_gmt":"2024-02-14T13:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/?p=177747"},"modified":"2024-02-14T08:43:52","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T13:43:52","slug":"meet-kaitlin-a-best-buddies-ambassador","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/vadc\/meet-kaitlin","title":{"rendered":"Meet Kaitlin, a Best Buddies Ambassador"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\">[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;177750&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221;][vc_column_text]My name is Kaitlin, and I\u2019ve been involved with Best Buddies since 2009. I started with the Friendship Program at Chantilly High School where I was matched with a peer buddy. I enjoyed doing different things at school with my buddy and was always very active in the chapter. I was even elected to be the Buddy Director for my chapter!<\/p>\n<p>During my time as a Buddy Director, I experienced what it was like to be a leader at an organization I cared for, which eventually lead me to Best Buddies Ambassadors. I am a current State Ambassador and have gotten to speak at important events and attend informative trainings.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-177748\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2024-BBVADC-Kaitlin-and-Friend-at-a-Restaurant.webp\" alt=\"Kaitlin and Friend at a Restaurant\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2024-BBVADC-Kaitlin-and-Friend-at-a-Restaurant.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2024-BBVADC-Kaitlin-and-Friend-at-a-Restaurant-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2024-BBVADC-Kaitlin-and-Friend-at-a-Restaurant-150x79.webp 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>One of my favorite trainings was at the Deloitte office. I took the metro by myself to Rosslyn. I was paired with a speech coach, and we practiced my Best Buddies mission statement. During the training, I got to think about my Best Buddies experiences and craft a message for community members that want to learn more about Best Buddies.<br \/>\nThe event was also my favorite because there was good food!<\/p>\n<p>Being an ambassador gave me the opportunity to attend the Leadership Conference (LC) in Indiana where I took classes on speech writing and presenting. After returning from LC, I was ready to get back into the community and practice my presentation skills! I presented at Local Leadership Training Day and spoke to Virginia and DC chapter leaders about my time in the Friendship Program. I also spoke at a virtual school assembly and informed attendees about the different ways to get involved with Best Buddies.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-177751\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2024-BBVADC-Kaitlin-Collage.webp\" alt=\"Kaitlin Collage\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2024-BBVADC-Kaitlin-Collage.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2024-BBVADC-Kaitlin-Collage-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2024-BBVADC-Kaitlin-Collage-150x79.webp 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I am always sharing my mission statement with people in my community, including my friends, family, coworkers and people at church. Right now, I am sharing my mission statement to help raise awareness and fundraise for the Friendship Walk. My goal is $100,000, and right now, I am at $1,625. I could have stopped at $50 when I got the T-shirt, but I kept going. I am trying to beat Shannen and raise more than him because it seems like every year, he\u2019s the number one fundraiser. I\u2019m number two at the moment.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-177749\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2024-BBVADC-Kaitlin-and-Friend.webp\" alt=\"Kaitlin and Friend\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2024-BBVADC-Kaitlin-and-Friend.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2024-BBVADC-Kaitlin-and-Friend-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2024-BBVADC-Kaitlin-and-Friend-150x79.webp 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Fundraising for the Friendship Walk, being an ambassador in my community, and hanging out with my Citizens buddy Olivia is keeping me very busy! I am so glad that I got to share my story with you because being a part of Best Buddies makes me feel happy. It makes me feel like I\u2019m included and a part of something. I have found good friends and want everyone to know that Best Buddies is a fun and inclusive place for all![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Best Buddies makes me feel happy and included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2080,"featured_media":177750,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"vadc-single-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[504,505],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-177747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-capital-region","category-capital-region-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Meet Kaitlin, a Best Buddies Ambassador - Best Buddies International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/vadc\/meet-kaitlin\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Meet Kaitlin, a Best Buddies Ambassador - 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