Page 47 - 2014 BestBuddies Massachussetts Annual Report
P. 47

MASSACHUSETTS

                                  I joined Best Buddies in 2006 when I was a freshman at Somerville High School. My mom
                                  said, "Just try it. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to keep going." Before long, she noticed
                                  how I had started to change. She saw how because of Best Buddies, I came out of my shell.

                                  Thank you so much to all of our supporters. You are making a huge difference, not just
                                  here in Massachusetts, but all over the whole world. Just 25 years ago, many individuals
                                  with disabilities were still tucked away, hidden from the real world. Now, because of Best
                                  Buddies, we are in the real world, working real jobs for real pay. We are making a difference
                                  with our lives.

                                  PROUDEST MOMENT SINCE JOINING BEST BUDDIES:

                                  I am proud of the first moment I spoke in front of a live audience at the Best Buddies Challenge:
                                  Hyannis Port four years ago. I was nervous. I had never spoken in front of a crowd before. I
                                  still remember how that felt. I looked out at them and I thought, "I got this."

Andre
Global Ambassador and YLC Member

Active Programs

One-To-One Friendships                                        COLLEGES:
                                                                  - Total number of chapters: 20
MIDDLE SCHOOLS:                                                   - Total number of participants: 1,012
    - Total number of chapters: 20                                - Total number of buddy pairs: 304
    - Total number of participants: 611                           - Cities/counties served: 14 cities/8 counties
    - Total number of buddy pairs: 121
    - Cities/counties served: 19 cities/8 counties            e-BUDDIES:
                                                                  - Best Buddies Massachusetts served 187 individuals with
HIGH SCHOOLS:                                                       and without IDD through e-Buddies, including 42 new
    - Total number of chapters: 70                                  participants, in 2014.
    - Total number of participants: 3,732
    - Total number of buddy pairs: 749
    - Cities/counties served: 68 cities/11 counties

Integrated Employment                                         Jobs program serves: Braintree, Boston, Burlington, Cambridge,
                                                              Hanover, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Somerville, Suffolk, Quincy,
JOBS:                                                         Westborough, and Worcester.
    - Total number of participants in the program: 83
    - Total number of employed participants: 71
    - Total number of Jobs secured through the program
      since inception: More than 100

Leadership Development                                        PROMOTERS:
                                                                  - Total number of chapters: 4
AMBASSADORS:                                                      - Total number of participants: 21
    - Total cumulative number of Ambassadors trained since        - Cities/counties served: 4 cities/4 counties
      program inception: 50                                       - Total number of Acts* completed: 1
    - Total number of active Ambassadors: 10
    - Total number of Ambassador trainings held this year: 2

"Best Buddies has offered Sarah amazing opportunities to develop friendships with several of her awesome
peers through her participation over the years in Pollard Middle School, Needham High School, and Dana
Hall chapters, but her attendance at leadership conference and her chances to meet Tom Brady and his
friends at the Tom Brady Football Challenges have really brought her out of her shell."

                                                    Michael Markowitz, parent

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