You’re making a difference.
Thank you! 1
Message From Our
State Director Dear Friends, All of us at Best Buddies in New York extend our deepest appreciation to our wonderful participants, families, volunteers, donors, and corporate partners for such a successful 2023! Your support and dedication to our mission helps our programs grow, creating more inclusive communities throughout our state.
Happy Holidays to you and yours and here’s to continued growth in 2024! In Friendship, Sophie Dubuisson State Director 2
Here’s what we’ve accomplished, Because of your support in
2023
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Our New York Impact Best Buddies in New York 2023
166
6,145
50,000+
Chapters
Participants
Impacted
Cities
Integrated Employment
One-to-One Friendships
78 28
33
Elementary School Chapters
62
Participants
28
Middle School Chapters
52
Employed Participants
80
High School Chapters
10
in Job Development
25
College Chapters
416
Citizens Participants
Counties
Leadership Development
100
Ambassadors
30+
Leadership Trainings
62
Pre-Employment Transitions Participants
4
One-to-One Friendship Program In 2023, Best Buddies in New York opened 34 new school-based Friendship chapters, bringing us to a total of 166 schools across the state. Additionally, the adult-based Citizens
Friendship program matched an additional 90+ participants, bringing the total program to 400+ members in New York. In total, Best Buddies Friendship
programs serve more than 6,000 students and adults with and without IDD across New York. 5
School Friendship Balls In the Spring, nearly 300 students and participants, with and without IDD, attended local Best Buddies School Friendship Balls across New York. Local school-based dances bring students from all over the region
together to celebrate inclusion, meet new friends, and dance the night away!
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School Halloween Balls In the Fall, nearly 300 students and participants, with and without IDD, dressed up in their favorite Halloween costumes and attended local Best
Buddies School Friendship Boo Balls across New York. Boo Balls bring together students and participants from local regions to join in on Halloween-themed inclusive dances each year.
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Integrated Employment Program Best Buddies Jobs placed 16 adult participants in integrated, competitive employment in 2023. In total, the Jobs
program serves 62 participants in
NYC. Additionally, the team has partnered with 37 employer partners dedicated to hiring through the Best Buddies Jobs
program. Our newest employers include Café Joyeux, New York Islanders, New York Mets, and JLL@Amazon. 8
Employer Partner Celebration In July, Best Buddies Jobs hosted employer partners and participants at the JCC in Manhattan for our Employer Partner Celebration. The event was a celebration of our local employer partners who have committed to creating inclusive workplaces by hiring people with IDD. Participants and employers were given tenure awards for their commitment to Best Buddies Jobs.
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Professional Headshots In May, Best Buddies Jobs participants were given the opportunity to receive free
professional headshots at Pier 59 Studios. Northsix Producer, Jordanna Vogel, provided space; Doerte Fitschen-Rath, photographer; Rob Massman, Assistant and Digital Tech; and Moiz Alladina, hair & makeup.
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Our Employer Partners
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Leadership Development Program Best Buddies has selected 11 individuals with and without IDD who are committed to promoting and educating audiences about our mission, philosophy, and benefits of Best Buddies through a variety of speaking opportunities and events. These individuals are our 2023-2025 State Ambassadors. You can meet and read
more about all of our New York Ambassadors here.
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Pre-Employment Transitions Program In 2023, Best Buddies in New York officially launched the Pre-
Employment Transitions (PreETS) program in Western NY and New York City, providing crucial career-readiness skills and postsecondary plans to students with IDD ages 14-22. The 6-week program has served more than 60 students so far in both school-based and communitybased classroom settings. 13
In March, Best Buddies supporters and participants gathered across New York for the CHAMPIONS Movie Premiere. The movie features three Best Buddies Ambassadors!
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Best Buddies in New York Raised
$340,000+ Nearly 1,500 participants, corporate partners and community members walked for inclusion at our New York Friendship Walks! 15
In July, nearly 70 leaders from all over New York, both with and without IDD, attended our 32nd Annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference. They participated in personalized trainings that develop the skills needed to organize and lead a Best Buddies chapter!
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Raised
$110,000 Nearly 300 supporters came together for our annual galas in Rochester and Albany in celebration of the collective efforts of our 15 Champions who raised funds and awareness to support our mission! 17
Raised
$340,000 Nearly 250 supporters came together for our annual Party for a Purpose Cocktail Reception, sponsored by Klingman & Associates and The Charles A. Mastronardi Foundation, in celebration of our mission of inclusion and local New York City programs. 18
We couldn’t have done it without you.
THANK YOU 19
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