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, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is excited to announce a generous grant from Thunderbirds Charities of $36,000 to further our mission of inclusion and support the Arizona School Friendship Program.
Best Buddies is built upon four key mission pillars: one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living. With the grant provided by Thunderbirds Charities, Best Buddies will focus on furthering our mission of inclusion through improving the education of and quality of life of our participants with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Currently, Arizona has Best Buddies programs at 58 schools. Each chapter is supported by a Faculty Advisor and/or Special Education Advisor plus a Chapter President, in addition to the Program Manager. The grant provided by Thunderbirds Charities will make it possible to serve more individuals with IDD through our Friendship Program in elementary, middle and high schools in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan area.
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 2023 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees.