Two perspectives: A mother and a friend

Ron Copas and Christina Ho are a buddy pair from the Southport High School/RISE Learning Center Chapter. These two have grown to be very close friends and have graciously shared their story with us. Enjoy!

A Mother's Perspective

My son Ron has Down syndrome. When his older sister Katie was in high school, some of her friends wanted to be Ron’s best buddy in the Best Buddies program. It was discouraged because Ron is non-verbal. I expressed my concerns, disagreement and disappointment in this decision but did not push the issue. When Ron’s youngest sister became high school age and her friend wanted to participate and wanted Ron as a best buddy, I again approached the issue with the school. They were willing to allow Ron to participate.  However, when the matching began the young girl who had said she would be there did not show up.  They went ahead and matched him with a young gal named Cindy Ho. They got along famously and had a wonderful year. This, the following year he has been matched again with Cindy’s younger sister Christina Ho.

Christina is even shyer and less talkative than her older sibling. She does not care that Ron is nonverbal.  She is content to go out to eat with Ron, or go to the movies and will arrange this through me, his mother.  She interacts with him and talks with him and he is responsive as he loves looking at her and just being with her.  She and her friends will meet Ron at Ron’s school’s Special Olympics basketball games and enjoy sitting in the bleachers with Ron. They state they love watching these basketball games more than they enjoy their own high school games.  It is not hard to figure out why as you watch how much it means to the Special Olympics players and how excited they become when they make a basket or win the game. She and Ron love hanging out.  It takes a special person to even want a friendship in the first place let along even maintain one with someone who is nonverbal. If you ask me, Cindy and Christina Ho are indeed the very special people in this equation. 

You cannot imagine what it does for this mother to see people who want to be friends and who go out of their way to cultivate a friendship with her son who would have no other avenue for friendships if it weren't for Best Buddies. 

A Friend's Perspective

 How long have you known Ron?

I've know Ron ever since my sister, Cindy, was his buddy. So it's been a little less than 2 years.

What’s your favorite thing about Ron?

My favorite thing about Ron is the fact that once he gets a hold of your hand he just pulls you in. I think it's very sweet, even though many people think that he's getting into my personal space I really think that it's touching when he holds my hand. And also the fact that when he smiles he doesn't really smile, he gives you a loop sided grin (it's really a smirk). Oh, and whenever he sees fire he's all hyper and wants to touch it. One last one, another favorite thing I like about Ron is the fact that he loves music and once he hears any kind of music that he can jam to, he sings along.

What do you like most about Best Buddies?

I love Best Buddies because of the people in it. Everyone is extremely kind, outgoing, and I feel as if they're not judgmental people. Most of the buddies are willing to talk to me and they are always so enthusiastic about what they are telling me about. Plus, whenever they answer me I don't receive just one worded replies.

What do Ron and you like to do together?

My favorite thing to do with Ron and his family is going to the movies. I wasn't really movie person before I met Ron, but thanks to him I'm always getting updated about what new movies will be out and what's good or not. I also love going out to eat with his family. We are always trying out new food, mostly Asian food so far, but I'm pretty sure we'll move onto Indian or Italian food once we've tasted everything Asian. 

What makes your friendship so special?

I think our friendship is special because Ron and I don't talk very much. We're both contented with   looking at other people, and the fact that if we could just sit and do nothing all day, we both wouldn't mind it. Another thing that makes it special is the fact that Ron is my first guy friend that is shorter than me, so he can't put his elbow on top of my head and make fun of my height. Plus, I like the fact that I'm actually using my little arm strength to keep Ron from running away from his family whenever we go out to eat (because food is all he sees when we go dining).  

To support friendships like Christina and Ron's, please support us in the 2013 Best Buddies Indiana Friendship Walk!

www.bestbuddiesindiana.org/walk 

A Perfect Pair: Zach and Madeline

Happy 2013!  We are excited to be back blogging and are ready to share some fantastic friendships stories with all of our readers!

Zach and Madeline met at Riverside Junior High in 8th grade when she became his peer tutor. They were friends that year, but were not best friends until they were matched as a buddy pair freshman year and have continued to be matched each year since. 

What does friendship mean to you and how has Best Buddies impacted your life?

Madeline: “Friendship to me is having someone who is there for you and wants you to succeed just as much if not more than they want themselves to succeed. 

Best Buddies has impacted my life in so many ways. First of all, it gave me my best friend that I will have for life. It has also given me so much compassion for others and sense of what I want to do with the rest of my life professionally and in other ways as well. “

Zach: “Friendship means having someone that will always be right by your side no matter what happens in life. Madeline and I have a lot in common. This year I was honored and privileged to manage the varsity girls cheer team and be the Tiger mascot and the cheerleaders and their parents absolutely loved having me around and my mom and brother were there to support me.

Best Buddies has truly impacted my life in a very fantastic way. It has given me a lot more confidence in what I do and it has allowed me to share it to people in my community and at my job at Goodwill Industries. I would recommend Best Buddies to anyone that is interested in joining it I think they should go for it!”

Zach and Madeline will be speaking at the Best Buddies Indiana Black & White Ball and sharing more of their journey with Best Buddies. If you’d like to learn more about their friendship, please consider attending the gala on March 2, 2013!

Please contact Natalie Seibert for additional gala information

 natalieseibert@bestbuddies.org

One in a Million: Katie Cortelyou's Journey with Best Buddies

Dear Friends,

As we close out our 10th anniversary blog, we are thrilled to feature a woman who has been an ambassador for Best Buddies since the beginning, Katie Cortelyou. Katie served as a founding member of the Best Buddies Indiana board and has been one of our most steadfast supporters. In addition to her service to Best Buddies Indiana, Katie also served a term on the Best Buddies International Board. Over the years, she traveled coast to coast spreading the mission of Best Buddies. Katie is an outstanding public speaker and on too many occasions to count, has take time off from her job at Community North Hospital to speak on behalf of Best Buddies and our mission of friendship and inclusion. Her travels have taken her to the Best Buddies International Ball in Potomac, Maryland and to Carmel, California, where she road side by side with Maria Shriver in the Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge. In addition, she has fired up the student representatives at the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference year after year, missing only one conference in 10 years!

Katie has been a true leader to the Best Buddies Indiana organization, our board and staff, and she is also an inspiration to people with Down syndrome and their families. Once a month, Katie volunteers at the St. Vincent Down Syndrome Clinic in Indianapolis and shares her story, giving hope to parents about the amazing opportunities that can exist for their children in the future. She has contributed so many wonderful ideas over the years and it is safe to say we would not be where we are today without Katie. Please take a moment to read about Katie's journey in her own words.

On behalf of all of us at Best Buddies, thank you, Katie, for your contributions. You are truly one in a million!

In Friendship,
Sarah Baldini

How did you become involved with Best Buddies?

I learned about Best Buddies when I was involved with the Down Syndrome Foundation of Indiana and it started the initiative of raising funds to open a Best Buddies office in Indiana. Once the BB office was opened, the assistant to the director asked if she could be my best buddy. 

What is your favorite Best Buddies memory?
My favorite Best Buddies memory is being invited to sit on the Best Buddies Indiana Advisory Board and then to sit on the Best Buddies International Board of Directors. Because of these opportunities, I had the honor of getting to know Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Eunice Kennedy Shrive and Maria Shriver and I learned from them "how to give more to others and try to make a difference." 

What are you doing today?
I have worked at Community North Hospital for 11 years, as a nurse's assistant, and I try to live what the Shriver's have taught me by volunteering for Dr. Escobar at St. Vincent's Down Syndrome Clinic, the Ladies Auxiliary of Noble of Indiana, and the BBIN Auxiliary. 

What is one word that makes you think of Best Buddies?

Togetherness

Kelley Schreiner's Journey with Best Buddies

Kelley Schreiner is currently in her 8th year with Best Buddies and is a member of the IUPUI chapter. In addition to her chapter involvement, Kelley is also serving in her first year on the Best Buddies Indiana Advisory Board. Kelley is very involved with the Spread the Word campaign to end the derogatory use of the r-word (check out her video below) and is an amazing self-advocate and a true champion for the disability rights movement. Read more about Kelley, in her own words. 

How did you become involved with Best Buddies?

Down Syndrome Indiana helped raise the money to create a Best Buddies office in Indiana and my parents heard about it from DSI and told me about it. My first Best Buddy, Angie Qualey, was a medical student and I got her from the IUPUI chapter. We are still good friends and she had a baby girl the day after my birthday. 

What is your favorite Best Buddies memory?

Getting to meet Anthony Shriver at the Best Buddies Leadership Conference is my favorite memory. I had a lot of fun with my buddies, too. 

What are you doing today?

My Best Buddy this year is Hannah, the president of Best Buddies at IUPUI. She is so nice. I am working at Longhorn Steakhouse and helping at my old grade school. 

What is one word that makes you think of Best Buddies?

Opportunity!

Kelley's Spread the Word to End the Word Video

 

 

Changing the World: Mary Delaney's Journey with Best Buddies

Mary and Katie Cortelyou at the Best Buddies DC gala circa 2005.

Mary Delaney is proof that one person truly can change the world! Mary heard about Best Buddies on NBC's Today Show in the late 1990's and contacted Best Buddies International to learn how she could bring Best Buddies to Indiana. At that time, Mary's second daughter, Meghan, was just a toddler. Meghan was born with Down syndrome and Mary hoped that by the time Meghan got to high school a Best Buddies program would be available for her. Mary worked with other mothers affiliated with Down Syndrome Indiana and numerous volunteers to host an annual gala to raise funds to start Best Buddies. The first event raised $75,000 and included more than 450 attendees. Building on the success of the gala, the group held a second event and then granted the funds to Best Buddies International to open a state office in Indiana. 

Meghan and her peer buddy, Ashley.

Mary served as the first board chair for the BBIN Advisory Board and has co-chaired many more gala events for the organization over the years. She has also been a tremendous volunteer for our programs, helping with the annual Leadership Conference, local leadership training days, and Buddy Ambassador trainings. In addition, Mary has served as the parent liasion for the Westfield High School chapter of Best Buddies where her oldest daughter, Mollie, was formerly a peer buddy, and her daughter Meghan, is now a buddy member. Best Buddies Indiana would not be where it is today without Mary's support, unwavering dedication and commitment. We thank Mary for all she has done for Best Buddies and are so proud to have her as a board member and volunteer supporting our mission of friendship and inclusion!

How did you become involved with Best Buddies?

I became involved with Best Buddies in 1998, when I saw Willard Scott from the Today Show interviewing someone from Best Buddies in the crowd and I knew I wanted that program in Indiana. I called the BB International office and was put in touch with David Quilleon, who was the Illinois State Director at the time. My daughter Meghan was three years old at the time. A group of women who had organized the DSI Buddy Walk decided to put together a black tie event to raise money to open a Best Buddies Indiana state office. 

Mary volunteering at the 2012 BBI Leadership Conference in Bloomington.

What is your favorite Best Buddies memory?

My favorite Best Buddies memory (and there are many so it's hard to choose) would ahve to be the first time I went to opening ceremonies at leadership conference and seeing all those young students there (both with and without disabilities). It was overwhelming to see so many young people so excited about working with people with intellectual disabilities. It made me cry and still does to this day!

What are you doing today?

Today, I serve on the Best Buddies Indiana Advisory Board and co-chaired the 2012 Black and White Ball. I am also thrilled to be able to tell you that my daughter, Meghan, who is my inspiration for all of this, is in her third year of participating in the Westfield H.S. chapter! 

Meghan and friends at the 2011 Westfield HS homecoming parade.

What is one word that makes you think of Best Buddies?

If I have to choose one word it would probably be "acceptance". Truly unconditional acceptance. 

Inspired by Friendship: Lizette Baumann's Journey with Best Buddies

Lizette Baumann (formerly Barnes) joined the Best Buddies Indiana staff in 2005, first as a high school program manager and eventually serving as the program supervisor. Although, she has moved onto other adventures, her love and support for Best Buddies remains steadfast and she has forever been inspired by the power of friendship!

How did you become involved with Best Buddies?
I was interested in working for a non-profit and I was already aware of Best Buddies as my parents had formerly served as board members for the BBIN advisory board. I was working for a communications and event planning company shortly after college and felt that I wanted to work in a career that truly made a difference. I met with Sarah Baldini, State Director,  regarding a new high school program manager position that would expand the BBIN office to reaching more than 20 new high schools and realized that I had a unique opportunity to work for an organization that could impact so many peoples lives through the power of friendship. I was hooked!

What is your favorite Best Buddies memory?

Lizette and Katie Meade at LC

Throughout the years that I worked at Best Buddies there were so many memories. I attended several international events including Best Buddies challenges on both sides of the country and spent 2-3 weeks every summer at Indiana University for the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference. Leadership Conference was always the pivotal moment for every chapter leader from each high school or college. It was the time, as a staff member for Best Buddies, when you saw how inspired and motivated each chapter president was to make their chapter the best and to create lasting true friendships for people with and without intellectual disabilities. The week focused not on who had a disability or who was from what state, but instead it created a culture of acceptance and encouragement for the chapter presidents. During the closing ceremonies of every Leadership Conference I attended, students and staff left each year inspired to become better people and to create a more accepting culture at their school. 

What are you doing today?
While working with so many educators through BBIN, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career as a school counselor. After leaving BBIN in 2008, I completed my Master's degree in School Counciling at Butler University. I now work as a middle school counselor and carry the themes and ideas from Best Buddies with me daily. My experience at Best Buddies shaped how I view the impact of friendship and how people with and without disabilities can work together to make the world a better place. As I see my students in their daily highs and lows, I am constantly reminded what an impact a single person can have on another person's life. A friendship created through Best Buddies is one such example. 

What is ONE word that makes you think of Best Buddies?
Friendship. It is the premise of Best Buddies and essential to life.

Marissa Gebhard's Journey with Best Buddies

Hard to believe that another school year is upon us! What better way to kick-off the school year, than to feature an individual directly associated with a stellar Best Buddies Indiana college chapter. Marissa Gebhard (formerly Runkle) is a Best Buddies long-timer and has been involved since before the state office opened in 1992. Marissa originally served as the host site coordinator for the Logan Center in South Bend, when the University of Notre Dame Best Buddies chapter opened in 1991. Below is a snapshot of Marissa's journey with Best Buddies over the past 11 years:

How did you become involved with Best Buddies?

My former boss at LOGAN Center started the Notre Dame chapter of Best Buddies around 1991, so it was part of my former job to recruit, supervise and train Notre Dame student volunteers to work with people with developmental disabilities. When I became a Notre Dame employee seven years ago, I loved Best Buddies so much I still wanted to serve as the advisor of Best Buddies.

What is your favorite Best Buddies memory?

I have many, many favorite Best Buddies memories. The one that means the most to me happened about ten years ago in a Notre Dame dorm late at night. We had just finished a big social event in Welsh Family Hall with about 50 buddy pairs. Almost everyone was gone, except the two buddies that I was going to take home. It had been a very long day. I was cleaning up and loading my car. I was really tired and exhausted, and as soon as I was done cleaning up one of the buddies handed me a cup of hot chocolate. I love hot chocolate. Instantly, I had so much energy!

What are you doing today?

Today, I'm writing and editing a script for a video on our four new professional master's degrees in the College of Science at Notre Dame, and I'm rushing to complete a few large banners to welcome freshman and their parents next Saturday, which means Best Buddies will soon be starting, too!

What is ONE word that makes you think of Best Buddies?

Love. Unconditional love is what we have in Best Buddies. We see each other for who we are, not for what we can do or what rank we've achieved in society.