July 28, 2022 — Best Buddies International, a nonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, inclusive living and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is excited to announce that Lehigh Senior High School in Lehigh Acres of Southwest Florida was the recipient of Outstanding High School of the Year honors from among nearly 1,400 high school chapters nationwide during the organization’s International Leadership Conference in July. Additionally, the chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University received honorable mention from among 515 college chapters.
According to the chapter’s nomination application, the students in the Best Buddies chapter at Lehigh Senior High are on fire for INCLUSION! The chapter meets twice a month, one meeting is a social event and one meeting is a service project. But the members love giving back so much that all their service projects feel like socials. Their projects have included a campus clean-up as a scavenger hunt with awards for the group that collected the most; baking over 200 cookies to honor teachers and school staff; making dog toys for the animal shelter; and making cards for the military.
Best Buddies matches a general education student with a student who has a disability in a one-to-one friendship. One buddy pair at LSHS took their friendship to another level and joined Unified E-sports together, attending the Special Olympics Summit, all because of their bond made in Best Buddies. Members of the club reached out to other classes and organizations to promote inclusion for people with disabilities and attended sporting events together in support of the school’s athletes. Their goal is to be positive role models to the rest of the school, encouraging others to step up and give back.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the officers and members of our Lehigh Senior High School Best Buddies club for the impact they are making. It is very important to them to make purposeful friendships, spread inclusion and impact the community through service projects. I am honored to work with these students and to know they are our future,” says Faculty Advisor Michelle Smith.
“Lehigh Senior High has done an exceptional job this year recruiting new members and spreading the Best Buddies mission throughout their campus and community. By representing Southwest Florida at Legislative Day to Ambassador training and dessert and learn, they deserve the prestigious award of Outstanding High School Chapter of the Year,” says Program Manager Molly Morrina.
“These national award wins go to show how providing opportunities for both people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities can have such a tremendous impact on families and the greater community. We are so very proud of both groups of students, their actions and thoughtfulness, along with the leadership of the chapter officers and faculty advisors,” says Melanie Musick, Best Buddies Area Director.
To receive details about getting a Best Buddies chapter started as a specific school, contact Program Manager Molly Morrina at mollymorrina@bestbuddies.org or reach her by phone at 305-332-7769.
ABOUT BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL:
Best Buddies® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 3,000 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies’ eight formal programs — Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies® , Jobs, Ambassadors, and Promoters — engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 50 countries, positively impacting the lives of more than 1.2 million people with and without disabilities around the world. In many cases, as a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org, facebook.com/bestbuddies or twitter.com/bestbuddies.