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.  

 

Driven by Friendship - John and Jane Barnes' Journey with Best Buddies

While the checkered flags of May are just behind us, we salute a special racing team this month, Panther Racing, and their owners John and Jane Barnes. John and Jane have been longtime supporters of Best Buddies International and helped raise the funds to open the Indiana office in 2002. For the last ten years, they have served on the Best Buddies Indiana Honorary Board and been steadfast supporters of our mission. It is an honor to have the support of John and Jane and Panther Racing!

How did you become involved with Best Buddies?
John and I became involved with Best Buddies at the 1995 Best Buddies International Gala held in Miami, Florida. As hostess, Eunice Kennedy Shriver had decided on a "race theme" and we were asked to provide authenticity to the gala with a Indy 500 Race Car. We attended the gala and started a relationship with she and Anthony Kennedy Shriver, which eventually led to the privilege of helping bring a chapter to Indiana.

What is your favorite Best Buddies memory?
The essence of Best Buddies, as always, is exhibited anytime Katie Cortelyou is in the room!

What are you doing today?
Managing Panther Racing, an Indy Car team. 

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

Evan Parker's Artful Journey with Best Buddies

April showers bring May flowers, and school projects bring great friendships! Read about how Evan Parker got involved with Best Buddies through his project at Herron School of Art & Design and gained a best friend in Matt Burns:

How did you become involved with Best Buddies?

I became involved with Best Buddies through a school project during my first semester of junior year of college. I attended Herron School of Art & Design while obtaining my Bachelors in Visual Communication. This particular semester was all about working with a local, non-profit organization and fortunately enough, my wish of working with Best Buddies Indiana was granted. I acted as Team Leader throughout the semester to my team of three other Visual Communication students. 

Creative Ace and Best Buddies Indiana

Our goal was to create a creative communication campaign to better our client. The semester consisted of a range of aspects including heavy research, strategic planning, meetings, visualizing, re-creating and in the end implementing. A couple of team members, myself included, actually took it upon ourselves to join and were soon paired up with a buddy. Months later, Indiana invested in our hard work and funded a state-wide launch of our campaign, "Buddy Up" into both high school and college settings. 
 

What is your favorite Best Buddies memory?

The Leadership Conferences immediately come to mind when asked about a best memory. These weekends are very rewarding in a variety of ways for anyone involved. There is a special energy throughout an leadership weekend and that is what keeps Matt [my buddy] and I returning each year. 

Matt and Evan at the 2012 Friendship Walk

Winner '2010 College Buddy Pair of the Year' at the 2010 Friendship Walk will always remain a highlight of mine as well. Wining such an award with a person like Matt is such an honor. I was completely content with the framed certificated we received, but Matt was expecting a championship wrestling best of sorts. 

   

What are you doing today?

I am currently a full-time Graphic Designer at Trends International located in Indianapolis, Indiana. I first interned at Trends thanks to Best Buddies back in the summer of 2012. Since finishing school, I have been brought back full-time. Best Buddies Indiana is a part of Trends Cares, which acts as Trends' charitable program. 

And I cannot forget about Matt. He has truly become a part of my every day agenda. The day is not complete if I have not heard from him. There is more to Matt than just being a friend and I cherish whatever it is. 

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

Embrace.