{"id":186969,"date":"2025-03-06T11:50:40","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T16:50:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/?p=186969"},"modified":"2025-03-06T11:50:40","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T16:50:40","slug":"celebrating-friendship-and-inclusion-at-the-2025-best-buddies-friendship-ball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/arizona\/2025-best-buddies-friendship-ball","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Friendship and Inclusion at the 2025 Best Buddies Friendship Ball"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image image=”186972″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]The 2025 Best Buddies Friendship Ball was a night to remember!<\/p>\n

Held in celebration of friendship, inclusion, and the incredible impact of Best Buddies, the event brought together participants from across Arizona for an evening filled with dancing, laughter, and unforgettable memories.<\/p>\n

The room was alive with energy as attendees, dressed in their finest, took to the dance floor to celebrate the power of friendship. From the moment the doors opened, it was clear that this was more than just a dance\u2014it was a celebration of the connections that make Best Buddies so special.<\/p>\n

\"All<\/p>\n

A highlight of the evening was the much-anticipated crowning of the 2025 Friendship Ball royalty! We were thrilled to name Kyle S. from Sahuaro Ranch Elementary as our Friendship Ball King. Kyle has a huge heart, loves helping others, and is always eager to make new friends. When he’s not busy with schoolwork, he enjoys playing sports, participating in band, and showcasing his incredible artistic talent. Our Friendship Ball Queen, Alena F. from Higley High School, brings laughter and joy to her club, always making others smile. She goes out of her way to ensure everyone feels included and welcomed, truly embodying the Best Buddies mission. Their well-deserved recognition was met with cheers and applause from friends, advisors, and family members, all celebrating their kindness, dedication, and commitment to inclusion.<\/p>\n

The Friendship Ball is more than just a fun night\u2014it is a reminder of the impact of the Best Buddies mission. Through our Friendship programs, individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) form genuine, lasting connections that help create a more inclusive world. This event serves as a beautiful reflection of the friendships that continue to grow through Best Buddies year after year.<\/p>\n

\"Friends<\/p>\n

A huge thank you to our sponsors for the evening, Absolute HCBS and M Culinary for once again hosting us at Monterra at WestWorld of Scottsdale. Thank you also to our Student Advisory Board, for all your planning and preparation for the event. Your support and enthusiasm ensure that Best Buddies in Arizona continues to thrive and change lives.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Celebrating friendship, inclusion, and unforgettable memories at the 2025 Best Buddies Friendship Ball.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2080,"featured_media":186972,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"az-single-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[422],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-186969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arizona-news"],"yoast_head":"\nCelebrating Friendship and Inclusion at the 2025 Best Buddies Friendship Ball - 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\/arizona\/2025-best-buddies-friendship-ball\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Celebrating Friendship and Inclusion at the 2025 Best Buddies Friendship Ball - 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