Best Buddies Arizona!

Presenters Julia Banahan, Lindsey Eaton and Lead Program Manager, Tim Lhotka

Best Buddies Arizona promotes opportunities for friendships and leadership with integrated employment for students and adults with disabilities. The group is led by Maggie Speer.

There are other staff members at the state office and they are Tim Bolen, Tim Lhotka and McKenzie Rosser. Fran Parker is also a staff member. Tim and Maggie are in charge of the Buddy Ambassador program. The ambassadors are students with disabilities, who are paired with a speech coach, a person without a disability. Julia Banahan, Dakota Johns, Drew Dysko and Greg Devorce are a few of the recent graduates from the ambassador board.

The program managers oversee chapters such as Higley HS, J.O Combs HS, ASU, Desert Ridge and Mountain Ridge HS. Obviously, Chaparral and many more chapters.

Arizona's fundraiser is the Spirit of Friendship, which is prom themed this year. The ambassadors and staff members were photographed for it this past June. Drew Dysko (Hamilton) and Lindsey Eaton (Chaparral), got a cute picture together. Drew was sitting on my lap and he was super cute.

Every March, Best Buddies has a Best Buddies Month Celebration where they honor outstanding chapters, leaders and buddy pairs. This quote was from the 2010-11 Best Buddies Month, I am so excited about the award ceremony and recognizing all of our outstanding chapters in Arizona!” says McKenzie Rosser, Program Manager. She continues, “it is just so rewarding to see the Buddy Pairs celebrating together.”

Statistics

Founder: Anthony Kennedy Shriver

Year Founded: 2000 (AZ) and 1989 (Best Buddies International)

# of chapters

High schools: 29 (closed 3).

Middle Schools: 3

Colleges: 2

Events:

Best Buddies Month Celebration

Spirit of Friendship Gala

Audi Quattro Golf Event (I saw this pictures on the 2nd BBAZ page...which is the one you have to friend.)

BNI Best Buddies Bowling

Social Media

Facebook

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Twitter

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