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.

Kim Massaro's Walk with Best Buddies

Happy April and welcome to the month of the Friendship Walk! Many people have walked with Best Buddies over the past ten years and this month we would like to recognize one our of outstanding special education advisors, Kim Massaro. Kim has been an advisor at Westfield High School since Best Buddies opened in 2002. Read about Kim's walk with Best Buddies:

How did you become involved with Best Buddies?
I heard about the program from a friend and decided to see if we could involved and open a chapter at Westfield HS. Our school was one of the first to join Best Buddies Indiana.  

What is your favorite Best Buddies memory?
I love them all! I love to see the kids interact with other in typical friendships.
 
Tell us about what you are doing today. 
I continue to serve as an advisor at Westfield HS. We are working on having a game night along with a pizza party and we made a basket for the Best Buddies Indiana gala in march. We are also working on getting a team for the walk!

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

Ned Russell-Sullivan's Fantastic Journey with Best Buddies

Welcome to March! Did you know that March is Disability Awareness and Best Buddies Month? What better way to kick off the month than to hear from an amazing self-advocate and buddy director at IUPUI, Ned Russell-Sullivan. Thank you, Ned, for sharing your story!

Hello, my name is Ned Russell-Sullivan. I would like to share my personal and fun experiences in Best Buddies with you. I started Best Buddies with my sister when I was in middle school. I remember we did tennis in our group. In my senior year in high school I was in the chapter at my school. When my Buddy and I were matched, we decided to write to each other. Almost every day we would lunch together. We kept in touch by e-mail and any time when we passed each other in the hallways. 

When I moved to Indiana, I started back being involved with Best Buddies. When I joined the Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) Chapter I had more then one buddy. When I talk to my Buddy it makes me happy because  keeping in touch with friends is important to me. This year my Best Buddy is Kathryn. What Kathryn and I have done as Buddies is go bowling, eat out and attend chapter events.  I really like going to the leadership conference because I feel like there's a job that needs to be done and I like improving my chapter. I am the Buddy Director for the IUPUI Chapter.

Kathryn and Ned - Art of Friendship 2010

I have a lot of fun memories through Best Buddies. I remember when my Buddy was Josie. I took her to see Josh Blue. Josh Blue is a comedian who won the 2004 season of Last Comic Standing. Josh Blue has Cerebral Palsy, is married and a father. I remember going bowling with several of my Best Buddies friends and going to the leadership conference each year and I feel proud and happy.

Today I am working for the Marion County Clerk's office. I work part-time five days a week. I love it. I sort mail and deliver summons to the county courts. I have been working there a year and a half.  In my Best Buddies chapter, we had our Holiday Dance in December and we also went to an Indiana Ice Hockey game. All the group activities are so much fun. In group activities, I catch up with the Buddies to see how they are doing with their Buddies.

Ned at an IUPUI chapter activity in October

If I had to pick one word that makes me think of Best Buddies, I feel that there should be two words. Family and Friends. Family, because every time we do a group activity, I feel like we're one big family helping and learning from each other. Friends, because you can always find a friend or someone to hang out with and have a great time!

Missy Spurr's Journey with Best Buddies

Each month we will be highlighting one of our outstanding supporters in honor of our 10 year anniversary. This month we are pleased to introduce you to: Missy Spurr

How did you become involved in Best Buddies?

Missy enjoying a dinner with her buddy, Jenny!

When I was in high school, I was involved in Project E.A.S.E. (Entering and Accessing School Environments), a club that helped promote inclusion of students in special education classes in the social scene of the high school.  I absolutely loved my involvement and was ECSTATIC when I came across the Best Buddies' table at the activities fair at the University of Notre Dame when I was a freshman.  It seemed like the perfect next step from my experience in high school.  I was matched with Jenny all four years while I was in undergrad and we had a fantastic time together.  We still keep in touch to this day and have a great friendship.  I was honored to serve as an officer for several years and attend the Leadership Conference.  It was exhilarating meeting other students as passionate about Best Buddies as I was.  When I started medical school at IU School of Medicine (IUSM), I greatly missed my involvement in Best Buddies.  Lucky for me, my brother was the founder and CBD of the Butler chapter and I was allowed to attend group events.  Surprisingly, that wasn't enough.  I talked with the state office and helped launch a new joint chapter between IUPUI and IUSM.  I had two different buddies while in medical school, Ellen and Scott.  We had a lot of fun together and got to see the growth of the chapter.  I continued involvement in Best Buddies by attending Business Buddies and the gala as well as participating in the walk.  Throughout medical school and residency, I have been able to use my experience in Best Buddies to more appropriately talk to parents of patients with disabilities and give them hope that their child can have long lasting friendships with people outside of their family.  I am incredibly honored to have been recently invited to join the state advisory board to help give back to an organization that has truly changed my life. 

What is your favorite Best Buddies memory?

One of Missy's favorite memories...meeting Chris Burke

Wow, there are just too many to choose from! My friendship with my buddies, my experiences at the leadership conference, meeting Anthony Kennedy Shrive and Chris Burke through Best Buddies' functions, to seeing the growth of Best Buddies throughout Indiana and the world!


 What are you doing today?

Missy and her fiance, Dan.

After completing my pediatric residency, I started a two year genetics fellowship. I will be finished in July and am planning on joining a practice here in Indianapolis. I am also lucky enough to be a faculty advisor for the IUPUI/IUSM Best Buddies chapter and to be a new appointee to the state advisory board of Best Buddies Indiana.



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

Friendship




  

Happy New Year - Celebrating 10 Years of BBIN

Dear Friends,

Welcome to our 10^th anniversary celebration blog! It is hard to believe Best Buddies launched an office in Indiana 10 years ago. The office opened in January, 2002 at 21 Virginia Avenue in downtown Indianapolis. We spent a short time downtown before moving to the Schull-Rausch Mansion at 3050 North Meridian Street, which was home to Best Buddies Indiana for more than five years. Continued growth brought more change and the office relocated to the Castleton area in 2009. We have been very happy in our new space and will be able to grow and expand as needed over the next several years.

Of course the most significant news since our office opened 10 years ago is the enormous  number of individuals we have impacted through the Best Buddies Friendship Programs. In 2002 we opened 8 chapters at High School and Colleges in the state that served  200 participants. Today, as we celebrate 10 years, we are ecstatic to report that we offer programs on 4 Middle School, 46 High School and 16 College campuses in Indiana, serving more than 4,600 individuals annually.

We would not have been able to accomplish so much without the hard work and dedication of our staff and the Best Buddies Indiana Advisory and Honorary Boards.  We thank each of you who have served Best Buddies Indiana during the last decade.  Because of you, we have brightened the days of our buddies and their families.

Throughout 2012, we will be highlighting former volunteers and participants who are part of the Best Buddies family on this blog. We invite you to join us on our journey as we celebrate the thousands of friendships that have been created over the last 10 years. Together, we are Best Buddies!

Sincerely,

Sarah Baldini 

State Director

A Common Bond - December 2011

Brad Herman, a freshman at Purdue, first met Shawn Rector at a beginning of the year social for Best Buddies Purdue.  They really hit it off, and a friendship started to blossom.  Brad and Shawn were officially matched at the Match Party a few weeks later.  Brad has been deeply impacted by having Shawn in his life.  He says:

Brad and Shawn hanging out at a Best Buddies event.

“Having the opportunity to meet Shawn at the Best Buddies meeting this year has been one of the brightest moments for me.  We were able to talk about our faith, life, and other interesting things about us. We have similar stories growing up, both being in a fatherless home.  I believe being able to relate to each other in this area has made our friendship stronger. He and I are able to talk about anything. To me, I believe open communication and loyalty are the two most important things in any relationship. We try and talk daily to see how everything is going. I had the privilege of attending the Halloween dance for Best Buddies of Purdue this year with Shawn. We all danced, sang, and played corn hole. It was a great night.   Also, Shawn and I met up at one of the local restaurants on campus to get something to drink/eat and connect with other people involved with Best Buddies. I look forward to continuing our friendship, knowing many great things are planned ahead.  I hope to become a great leader in his life, as much as he has become one in mine.”

A Bright Friendship - November 2011

Blair and Madisyn, from the Pendleton Heights Best Buddies chapter, have been matched for the past three years and have developed an incredible, five-star worthy, friendship with a very bright future. They enjoy hanging out together and going to the movies. Below is a picture of Blair and Madisyn looking cool in their 3-D glasses at the movie "Transformers", proof of their favorite one-to-one activity. Blair describes his friendship with Madisyn, 

"She [Madisyn] is a one-of-a-kind friend! It [friendship with Madisyn and Best Buddies] has made me more confident in myself and in making friendships with others."

Blair and Madisyn were featured in the the Pendleton Heights chapter video that can be seen here! Pendleton Heights was awarded the 2011 Indiana Chapter of the Year. Friendships, just like Blair and Madisyn's, abound!!