Page 46 - 2014 BestBuddies Massachussetts Annual Report

Massachusetts

A Message From Our Leaders

Best Buddies Massachusetts began 2014 with several major goals in mind, including expanding our
Jobs and Friendship programs to central Massachusetts. As private and state revenue increased
in 2014, we were able to hire new staff to oversee expansion throughout the commonwealth.
Additionally, we wanted to increase our presence in schools within the city of Boston. With support
from the school district, we opened three new chapters in this area in 2014. As my responsibilities
increased with the Best Buddies Challenge in 2014, I identified the need for additional operational
support. We created a new position and brought on a Best Buddies veteran, in late spring, as our
director of operations. Heading into 2015, we are poised to fulfill our goals of expanding our success
with Best Buddies Jobs beyond the greater Boston region, continuing to engage new communities
with our Friendship programs, and increasing revenue through relationships with new employer
partners, foundations, individuals, and through our signature special events.

Diligent work by our tireless programs teams brought about more opportunities for expansion in
2014. The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, pleased with our work in greater Boston,
offered us a contract in the city of Worcester, which will help us bring integrated employment
services to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in that area. We have had a
long wait list of individuals who have been interested in our services for years. We have established
several relationships with new foundations which will increase our capacity in central Massachusetts, as well. Our team includes veteran Best
Buddies staffers who manage relationships statewide with grace, and sheer determination. It is these relationships, along with the exceptional
dedication of thousands of volunteers, which enabled Best Buddies Massachusetts to reach our goals in 2014.

In 2015, we expect to serve 100 individuals with IDD through Best Buddies Jobs statewide, and oversee 120 chapters at middle schools, high
schools, and colleges throughout the Commonwealth. Our advisory board members are ready to help us implement the expansion projects
that began in 2014 by helping to identify new employer partners outside the Boston area. By adding new staff positions to both our Friendship
and Jobs teams, as well as adding infrastructure by bringing on a Director of Operations, we have increased our capacity to deliver the highest
quality of services statewide.

Craig Welton
State Director

I began working with Best Buddies Massachusetts in 2010 to support my son, who wanted to
make a change in his middle school. About a year later, I was asked to join the board by Craig
Welton, State Director for Best Buddies Massachusetts. I was honored to join. Craig is an amazing
leader and someone I have grown to respect.

My experiences with Best Buddies and being a member of the board have exceeded my
expectations. All of our buddies and their families are inspirational and amazing. I have learned that
the most important benefit Best Buddies provides is the complete acceptance, appreciation, and
acknowledgement of our buddies abilities, not their disabilities.

Recently, Craig and I worked with Dan Salera, in partnership with the Highland Street Foundation, to
improve communication frameworks and prescriptive actions for the board to be more efficient and
productive, with a focus on the Best Buddies Jobs initiative in Massachusetts. Our board members
are exceptional and they are all very invested in Best Buddies. They all have asked for the prescriptive
requests on what to do to help and I think this will make 2015 a great year for our board.

I personally look forward to helping support our expansion in Metro West, and into Worcester
County, with new Friendship and Jobs programs.

Mike Beaudet
Advisory Board Chair

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