Page 33 - 2014 BestBuddies Massachussetts Annual Report

SIGNATURE EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

25th ANNUAL BEST BUDDIES LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

In July 2014, more than 2000 student and adult leaders from around the globe
attended this three-day conference. Leaders from across the world united
for a weekend of leadership development and training. Participants were
encouraged to think about the global effects of social inclusion of people with
IDD. Best Buddies provided nearly 40 scholarships to disadvantaged student
leaders who would not have otherwise attended.

EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER DAY 2014

Eunice Kennedy Shriver (EKS) Day was created in 2010 in her honor, to inspire
people to experience her legacy, embrace the movement she founded to bring
awareness to the disability movement and champion the rights of people with
intellectual and developmental disabilities. The day promotes a global call
for people to commit actions of inclusion, acceptance and unity for people
with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The third annual EKS Day
was observed on September 23rd throughout the United States and in 100
countries. Activities included: playing sports, picnics, canned-food donations,
leadership trainings and pledges to stop using the R word.

I’M IN TO HIRE KICKOFF

I’m In To Hire, is a movement that launched on October 7, 2014. Rooted in the
key findings of the groundbreaking 2014 report by the Institute for Corporate
Productivity (i4cp), “Employing People with Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities,” the campaign brings to light the business benefits of hiring people
with IDD so that more companies will take action by employing these skilled
and qualified individuals.

Campaign Goal:
To get one million unemployed individuals with IDD off the sidelines and
integrated into the workforce over the next 10 years internationally.

Key Highlights From the i4cp Study:
High-performance organizations surveyed for the study who already employ
people with IDD, such as the law firm Holland & Knight and Silicon Valley
Bank, reported the following benefits:

• 57% reported the addition of highly-motivated employees who are
good talent matches

• 43% said it produces measureable and observable business benefits
• 47% reported an inclusive culture attractive to talent pools
• 60% said it supports their diversity and inclusion strategy

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