BOSTON – They’re college students, high school students, kids in middle school, ordinary citizens and coworkers; and their service work is changing lives throughout the world. They’re members of Best Buddies International, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.

Best Buddies has more than 1,400 chapters throughout the U.S. and 50 other countries. Their volunteers provide an equivalent of $70 million in service each year and touch the lives of more than 350,000 individuals living with intellectual disabilities.

Best Buddies International was founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver in 1989. The organization stemmed from an idea Shriver had while he was studying at Georgetown University. He realized the need for relationships between people with and without intellectual disabilities and knew college students could make a difference. Shriver encouraged his peers to initiate these friendships while they were in school. It wasn’t long before his idea became an official 501(c) (3) entity and “Best Buddies Colleges” was born. Continue reading →