ABOUT BEST BUDDIES

Making a Difference

Anthony K. Shriver

About Intellectual Dissabilities

Best Buddies' Six Service Programs

Best Buddies at UMCP

The Friendship Games

 

-CALENDAR OF EVENTS for Spring 2006

Note:
-All chapter/officer meeetings will be held in Terrapin Rooms B or C from 7-8pm.  Terrapin rooms B and C are in the Stamp Student Union, Student Involvement Suite.
-To carpool to the chapter outings please meet by the Chevy Chase ATM outside of Ellicott Hall.

FEBRUARY-

Thursday 02/01: Chapter Meeting/Friendship Games Planning, 7-8pm
Thursday 02/08: Friendship Games Planning (Food Court), 7-8pm
Saturday 02/10: Chapter Outing, 1-3:30pm
Thursday 02/15: Friendship Games Planning (Food Court), 7-8pm
Thursday 02/22: Officer Meeting/Friendship Games Planning, 7-8pm

MARCH-

Thursday 03/01: Chapter Meeting, 7-8pm
Friday      03/02: Friendship Games Setup (Ritchie Coliseum), 5-7pm
Thursday 03/03: Friendship Games (Ritchie Coliseum), 11am-3pm                          (Setup starts @8am, please be prompt)
Thursday 03/29: Officer Meeting, 7-8pm

APRIL-

Thursday 04/05: Chapter Meeting, 7-8pm
Saturday 04/21: National Youth Service Day, 1-3:30pm
Thursday 04/26: Officer Meeting, 7-8pm
Saturday 04/28: 2007 Best of Maryland Awards, 7-8pm

MAY-

Thursday 05/03: Chapter Meeting, 7-8pm
Saturday 05/05: Chapter Outing, 1-3:30pm
Thursday 05/10: Officer Meeting, 7-8pm

 

-THE SCOOP-

*Information will be posted soon!*

 

-LINKS-

BEST BUDDIES I NTERNATIONAL:
http://bestbuddies.org

BEST BUDDIES MARYLAND:
http://bestbuddiesmaryland.org

E-BUDDIES
http://www.ebuddies.org

SPECIAL OLYMPICS:
http://www.specialolympics.org

THE ARC:
http://www.thearc.org

THE JOSEPH P. KENNEDY, JR. FOUNDATION
http://www.jpkf.org/

-UMCP BEST BUDDIES CHAPTER CONTACT-

Nudh Suanpan
"College Buddy Director 2006-2007"
Email: missnudh14@yahoo.com

TBA
"Treasurer"
Email: shawnie527@aol.com

Natalie Cardenas
"Membership Coordinator"
Email: ncardena@umd.edu

Caroline Harhai
"eBuddies Coordinator"
Email: wsdm2785@aol.com

Noah Abelson
"Activities Coordinator"
Email: nabelson@umd.edu

Matt Mille
"Friendship Games Chair & Webmaster"
Email: mmille1@umd.edu

Melissa Jones
"Secretary"
Email: mnjones@umd.edu

Lauren Peddicord
"Public Relations Officer"
Email: lpeddico@umd.edu

Ayesha Edwards
"Faculty Advisor"
Email: aedwards@ds9.umd.edu

Karen Elrich
"Host Site Coordinator"
Email: kelrich@santegroup.com

Rock Creek Foundation:
12120 Plum Orchard Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20904-7820
Tel: 301-589-8303
TTY/TDD: 301-925-2735
Fax: 301-587-8724

-GENERAL BEST BUDDIES CONTACT-

Best Buddies Maryland:
3500 Boston St. MS-47
Suite 210
Baltimore MD 21224
Tel: 410-327-9812 or 1-877-MD-BUDDY(toll free)
Fax: 410-327-9816

Christian Metzger
ext. 28
"State Director"
Email: ChristianMetzger@bestbuddies.org

Jill Ellis
"Best Buddies Maryland Deputy Director of Programs"
Email: JillEllis@bestbuddies.org

 

BEST BUDDIES: ANTHONY K. SHRIVER
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Anthony K. Shriver is the founder and chairman of Best Buddies International, which was established in 1989. Recognizing the tremendous volunteer potential of college students, Anthony inspired his peers to participate in a novel endeavor to enhance the numerous opportunities available to people with intellectual disabilities.

Today, through Anthony's stewardship and entrepreneurial spirit, Best Buddies has grown significantly into a leading not-for-profit entity. The organization comprises six programmatic divisions, serving 40,000 volunteers this year alone and 175,000 since its inception. Best Buddies operates in 38 states, as well as in Canada, Egypt, Ireland, and Greece, and is working toward further international expansion.

A graduate of Georgetown University, Anthony has received - in recognition of his work on behalf of Best Buddies - such honors as the 1999 Jefferson Award For Greatest Public Service By An Individual Thirty-Five Years Or Under, the 1998 Social Entrepreneur of the Year, and an Honorary Doctorate from Loyola College in Maryland.(return->)

(Source: http://www.bestbuddies.org)

BEST BUDDIES: MAKING A DIFFERENCE
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Best Buddies is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies has grown from one chapter on one college campus to a vibrant, international organization involving participants annually on more than 750 middle school, high school and college campuses in the United States, Canada, Egypt, Ireland, and Greece.

In our 13 years of existence, Best Buddies has touched the lives of over 175,000 individuals. Over 40,000 people are active in Best Buddies this year, supported by a budget of nearly $10,000,000.

Even though Best Buddies has grown tremendously in its short existence, most of the United States still lacks programs to help people with intellectual disabilities become a part of mainstream society. Our goal is to bring Best Buddies to every corner of the United States in the next ten years. To achieve this goal, Best Buddies programs need to be active in every community nationwide.

According to the Arc (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens), there are more than 7.5 million people with intellectual disabilities in the United States and 250 million worldwide. Paired with the 14 million college students in the U.S. and the 77 million college students worldwide, we can make a huge difference in the lives of so many. The challenge is astounding, but with the power of volunteers and the generosity of our donors, it is attainable. (return->)

(Source: http://www.bestbuddies.org)

 

 

BEST BUDDIES: INTELLECTUAL DISSABILITIES
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More than 7.5 million Americans have an intellectual disability. More than 100,000 newborn babies are added to this number annually. Three out of every one hundred children born in this country have, or will develop, an intellectual disability.

A person with an intellectual disability is one who, from childhood, develops at a below average rate. As a consequence, the person experiences unusual difficulty in learning and is relatively ineffective in applying whatever he/she has learned to the problems of ordinary living.

Intellectual disabilities, formerly known as mental retardation, may be regarded as a set of symptoms associated with a condition, disorder, or developmental history. It is not contagious because it is not a disease.

Testing methods have various cutoff points for the diagnosis of intellectual disabilities. These can range from an IQ of 70 to an IQ of 80. However, IQ is not the only criteria for diagnosis. A person with an intellectual disability also exhibits impaired adaptive behavior.Of the total population with intellectual disabilities, the majority are mildly affected (approximately 87%). Ten percent are moderately affected and three percent are severely or profoundly affected.

Studies indicate there are more males have intellectual disabilities than females. 60% of the population with intellectual disabilities is male and 40% is female.People with disabilities can be hardworking, reliable employees. Supported employment strategies allow people with disabilities access to new job opportunities for competitive employment.

There is a clearly established relationship between poverty and intellectual disabilities. Malnutrition, lead poisoning and lack of prenatal care are a few factors that may contribute to the disproportionate occurrence of intellectual disabilities among America's poor. More than 200 causes of intellectual disabilities have been identified. Causes include rubella, syphilis, meningitis, toxoplasmosis, RH-factor, substance abuse, and chromosome abnormalities such as Down Syndrome. (return->)

(Source: http://www.bestbuddies.org)

BEST BUDDIES: ITS SIX SERVICE PROGRAMS
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Best Buddies Middle Schools-
Pairs students with intellectual dissabilities in one-to-one relationships with middle schools students.

Best Buddies High Schools-
Pairs students with intellectual dissabilities in one-to-one friendships with high school students.

Best Buddies Colleges-
Pairs people with intellectual dissabilities in one-to-one friendships with college students.

Best Buddies Citizens-
Pairs people with intellectual dissabilities in one-to-one friendships with other individuals in the corporate and civic communities.

Best Buddies Jobs-
Is a supported employment program. Its goal is to secure competitive, paying jobs for people with intellectual dissabilities.

EBuddies-
Pairs people with and without intellectual dissabilities in an e-mail friendship.

 

 

-12th Annual Friendship Games 2007-

What:
Come and join us for a free carnival style day of
fun, food, and FRIENDSHIP!

When:
Saturday, March 3, 2007 (11am-3pm)

Where:
University of Maryland, Ritchie Coliseum

Who:
YOU!! Best Buddies chapters from all over Maryland,
Virginia, and Washington D.C., and Best Buddies community members.

Admission: Free! (includes T-shirt, small lunch, prizes, & FUN!)
Donations are welcome @ the door. Each chapter is asked to bring at least one cake for the Cake Walk.

*View the Friendship Games Flyer for more details!! Pass the word!

*Directions to the Friendship Games

*University of Maryland Campus Map

-A Brief History of the Friendship Games-

The Friendship Games are hosted annually by the University of Maryland Chapter of Best Buddies. This large carnival style event attracts Best Buddies members from across the state of Maryland who all share a common

 

It is a large carnival style event held in March (in honor of Best Buddies month)

 

-A Brief History of the Friendship Games-

The Friendship Games are hosted annually by the University of Maryland Chapter of Best Buddies. This large carnival style event attracts Best Buddies members from across the state of Maryland who all share a common

 

It is a large carnival style event held in March (in honor of Best Buddies month)

 

-2006 BMA's-

Best Buddies Maryland Presents.....

"THE 2006 Best of Maryland Awards (BMA's)"

Who:
All Best Buddies Members and Family

When:
Saturday, April 29 / around 1-4pm

Where:
Atholton High School: 6520 Freetown RD/ Columbia, MD 21044-4002
Driving Directions from UM (Ellicott Hall) to Atholton High School

What:
Join us for an Oscar-style awards "show" hosted by the famous comedian Michael Aronin. This event is honoring our particpant's hard work and dedication to Best Buddies. After party to follow featuring entertainment and food.

Invitations Comming Soon!!
For More information contact
Jill Ellis by phone at 1-877-MD-BUDDY Ext. 30