Thunderbirds Charities Generous Grant of $50,000 To Support Best Buddies in Arizona And Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities
Best Buddies International, a nonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is excited to announce a generous grant of $50,000 from Thunderbirds Charities to further our mission of inclusion by supporting friendship programs.
Best Buddies is built upon five key mission pillars: one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support. With the grant provided by Thunderbirds Charities, Best Buddies will focus on furthering our mission through creating an environment of inclusion and support through our School Friendship Project to ensure students with IDD are empowered to participate in everyday activities without the fear of being ostracized or bullied. This funding will support the existing 56 active elementary, middle, and high school chapters in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan area, with plans to expand into 5 more school chapters this school year. This program will help people with IDD form meaningful one-to-one connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences, and activities with peers both with and without IDD.
For more information about Best Buddies in Arizona, please contact State Director, Lisa Cleary at lisacleary@bestbuddies.org, or 602.253.6463.
This grant is part of the Spring 2025 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees.