GIVE Center creates friendships with Best Buddies

Best Buddies kicked off the fall semester of 2005 by hosting their annual “Meet and Greet” at GC&SU.

Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is non-profit organization that is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-on-one friendships. Best Buddies positively impacts more than 250,000 participants each year. The GC&SU group was established in 1998.

The “Meet and Greet” event was held in the atrium of the John H. Lounsbury building at 6 p.m. on Sept. 14. The college buddies, along with GC&SU faculty advisor Dr. Amy Childre and Marianne McAllister, the host site coordinator, met for dinner with the buddies. After dinner, the college buddies enjoyed a casual conversation time to get to know their future buddy.

GC&SU freshman Chelsea Gould is a new member of Best Buddies this year.

“I am really excited about my buddy,” Gould said. “She is really sweet, and I feel like I connect with her because she reminds me of one of my family members.”

There are two levels of membership available to college students who want to be involved with Best Buddies. A student with less time to volunteer can become an associate buddy. Associate buddies are not paired up with their own individual buddies, but they still attend as many outings as possible. The second level of membership is to become a college buddy. College buddies are directly paired with a person with a disability and meet with them on a weekly basis.

During the event, the GC&SU Best Buddies members were notified of two awards the group received for their outstanding service and commitment. First, Best Buddies was highlighted on the web site of the Daily Points of Light Foundation on Sept. 29, 2005. Best Buddies was recognized for this award for making a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others.

Best Buddies also received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for community service. The group received this award for logging more than 200 hours of community service within a 12-month period.

Junior Holli Griffin is in her third year of participation with Best Buddies. Griffin is the college buddy director this year, and she said being a part of this organization has really changed her life for the best.

“I had never talked to someone with a disability before, and then I became a member,” Griffin said. “The second year, I was activities coordinator, and as a junior, I have become the college buddy director. I am now majoring in special education and want to teach special education when I graduate.”

For more information about Best Buddies, call Dr. Amy Childre at (478) 445-0506.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 7 2005. Filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry