The Opportunity of Friendship

Kayla and Alli are an outstanding buddy pair at Mooresville High School. Don’t believe me? Check out either girl's Facebook page or Instagram and see all of the posts they have together. These two are an inseparable pair both inside and outside of school. They are an incredible model of true friendship.

What does Best Buddies mean to you?

To Alli, being paired with Kayla has been “the greatest opportunity of her life”. Many people see what Alli has taught Kayla about the “real world” but at the end of the day, Alli feels like she has grown the most from their friendship.

                                                                       

What's your favorite thing about your buddy?

Alli has a lot of favorite things about Kayla but she will always point out Kayla’s obsession with taking and posting selfies. Kayla “loves their friendship just because that is how it feels.”

 

What do you and your buddy like to do together?

Kayla and Alli like to do a lot of different things together in and outside of Best Buddies. Most recently, they were honored as an “outstanding buddy pair” and attended and Indianapolis Colts game together.

Alli wants people to know that their friendship is one of a kind. Kayla never fails to put a smile on her face.

Champions of Friendship: Laura and Kacy

As many of you know, last March we kicked off our Best Buddies Indiana Citizens program. The Citizens program provides an opportunity for adults in community to form a friendship with another adult in the community with an intellectual or developmental disability. The Citizens program is now in full swing with eight Citizen pairs already. 

Laura Krummen and Kacy Wendling make up one of these friendships.

Laura started her Best Buddies journey at Zionsville High School where she was deeply involved during her time there. Laura is also a Best Buddies Ambassador. 

Kacy got involved with the organization first as a volunteer. The Citizens program gave Kacy the opportunity to take her commitment to Best Buddies a step further and be matched in a one-to-one friendship. Kacy is also participating in the first annual Best Buddies Indiana Champion of the Year Competition. A competition between a group of Best Buddies volunteers, participants, and community members, to raise money for Best Buddies Indiana during a limited amount of time. 

Here is a little bit about Kacy and Laura's friendship:

What's your favorite thing to do together?
Laura and I both love to cook, bake and try new restaurants when we’re together.  She’s a bit more adventurous than I am and she’s introduced me to some of her favorite Indian food spots in the city. We just started swapping recipes back and forth when we see each other so we can still try new recipes when we’re not together.  It’s only fitting that she is helping my Champion of the Year campaign by hosting a giveback night at Greeks Pizzeria in her hometown, Zionsville. Come stop by on October 16^th.

What do you like most about being involved with Citizens?

I really loved how natural the process was. The Best Buddies team really gets to know each person interested in becoming matched so they can pair him or her with the right person. I wasn’t involved in Best Buddies in high school or college and Citizens gives me the opportunity to be a part of what I was missing.

Laura, what’s your favorite thing about Kacy? 

Kacy and I like to have fun together. Kacy, my family, friends and I went to India Garden.

Kacy, what’s your favorite thing about Laura? 

My favorite thing about Laura is her laugh and how it spreads to everyone near her. Laura can be a strong silent type at first but once she opens up or talks about her dog, Daisy, she doesn’t stop smiling. It’s contagious.

Kacy, what motivated you to sign up to do Champion of the Year? Any big plans?

Juli Miller, former Best Buddies Indiana State Director, first introduced me to the Champion campaign this past spring. She has such a gift for connecting people with a mission and I immediately signed on after speaking with her. 

I wanted to tell the story of Best Buddies and help to be the voice of those who may not be in the unique position I am. I’ve really gotten behind the mission in the past two years since I’ve been involved in Best Buddies. I want to spread the mission to my peers, to the Indianapolis community and beyond my own reach. That’s what motivated me to becoming involved with Champion of the Year.

Big plans?
My family and friends are the best and have helped me plan and execute ideas to reach more people with the mission and bring funds back to a great cause. I have a few more events lined up throughout October that couldn’t have happened without them. I am also selling “Everybuddy is a Champion” t-shirts for $20 and ALL proceeds go back to Best Buddies.  Purchase one here: www.kacywendling.wix.com/championshirts

You can read more about Kacy's story and the Champion of the Year campaign here: BBIN Champion of the Year

Focus on Friendship: Amelia and Tarinagi

Amelia Anderson and Tarinagi Trinh are friends that attend Riverside Intermediate Jr. High School in Fishers, Indiana. Amelia was a 6^th grader and Tarinagi was a 5th grader this past school year and they both joined Best Buddies and formed an amazing friendship, spending valuable time to ether in and out of school.  Their friendship demonstrates the positive impact of Best Buddies in the school and community!

Why are you friends? 

Tarinagi: I like to talk to her! 

Amelia: He makes me smile!

During school, when did you enjoy spending time together? 

Both: When we were in the Teacher’s Lounge, we enjoyed helping each other sell candy.

What was your favorite in-school Best Buddies activity? 

Both: Our favorite school activities were our recreation days and cookie decorating in December before Winter Break.

What was your favorite out of school Best Buddies activity?

Ice-skating for thirty minutes was fun. Meeting some Indiana Pacers players was fun when we went to the game.

To learn more about Riverside's Best Buddies chapter, Indiana's Outstanding Middle School Chapter for 2013-2014, check out the video below.

Brian & Sam

Brian Ambrose and Sam Shelley are friends from Brownsburg High School. Both are in the 9^th grade and have been friends since Kindergarten. Growing up, Sam and Brian would hang out together inside and outside of school. This year, Brian decided to become involved in Best Buddies where he could spend more time with is life-long friend Sam. Through Best Buddies, the two have been able to continue and strengthen their friendship.

How long have you been involved in Best Buddies?

Sam has been a part of Best Buddies since middle school. Brian joined this year because of his friend Sam. 

What's your favorite thing about Brian?

Brian always has my back.

What's your favorite thing about Sam?

He is goofy and fun to be around.

What do you and Brian like to do together?

We like to play video games together and go to the pool.

Below is a picture of Brian and Sam and the rest of their chapter at  Brownsburg High School's End of the Year Party.

Shawn & Maddie

Shawn and Maddie at the 2014 BBIN Black & White Ball

We could share countless stories of friendships that have been made in our programs throughout the state of Indiana. Many times, these friendships begin when two people are matched in a friendship. However, sometimes there are special friendships that develop outside of a one-to-one friendship. 

Shawn and Maddie have one of these friendships. Members of the Purdue Best Buddies chapter, the pair has never officially been matched, but have developed a strong friendship and partnership as leaders in their chapter.

As she graduates this month, Shawn wanted to honor Maddie by telling everyone about what her friendship means to him.

What does Best Buddies mean to you?

It gives me hope, Best Buddies does. That there can be a better world for this generation. Best Buddies means true friendships.

What's your favorite thing about Maddie?

Her passion to help others

What do you and Maddie like to together?

We don't really hang out much, but when we do, just being around her makes me happy. She pushes me hard and is my biggest fan, but holds me accountable when I need it.

How has Best Buddies and your friendship changed your life?

It gives me a reason to believe in my self and others again. It gives me a reason to smile again.

Why do you think others should join Best Buddies?

So they can be a part of an amazing program like Best Buddies that promotes acceptance and inclusion for everyone, because that's really what all of us want.

Lauren Wendling, college program manager for BBIN, said about the pair, "Shawn and Maddie are a true representation of Best Buddies.  They have a very natural friendship and support each other in all aspects of their lives."

A Month for Friendship

As we end the month of February and enter March, we look forward to celebrating Best Buddies month. March is the month we dedicate to celebrating friendships, jobs, advocacy, and social inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. What better time to celebrate another one of our outstanding friendships. 

Ella and Gabriel are both members of the Brownsburg West Middle School Best Buddies chapter and this is their first year together as a buddy pair. 

What does Best Buddies mean to you?

Gabriel: It means being able to see my buddy outside of school!

Ella: Best Buddies means to me helping out with kids who have a disability. Also, to learn about new experiences with them.

What's your favorite thing about your buddy?

Gabriel: She is nice and likes video games!

Ella: My favorite thing about my buddy is that he is hilarious! He is very friendly, responsible, nice, and funny. He can really make you laugh, even if you are in a bad mood. He is all the possible great character traits that you could think of.

What do you and your buddy like to do together?

Gabriel: Movies, video games, and crafts!

Ella: Gabe and I like to watch movies, play video games and other games, and go bowling together.

How has Best Buddies changed your life?

Gabriel: She [Ella] is someone I can count on.

Ella: Best Buddies has changed my life because you get to experience things that your buddy experiences throughout their life and day. 

Why do you think others should join Best Buddies?

Gabriel: So they can have a good friend.

Ella: I think others should join Best Buddies because it would give them an experience and lessons with their buddy. You create a new friend and hangout with a new friend whenever you want!