Best Buddies in Michigan Impact Report 1
Our Mission Best Buddies is a non-profit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
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C R E AT I N G C O M M U N I T I E S O F I N C L U S I O N Best Buddies is a volunteer movement at the core of what we do. It is our volunteers, students, teachers, donors, participants, and families that choose friendship, belonging, and inclusion every day. Even through a global pandemic, you helped us grow our programs and make an impact. Thank you for being part of our mission to create communities of inclusion. With Gratitude,
Kara Huber Director of Mission Advancement, Best Buddies in Michigan
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At a Glance
2018 2017
Michigan's first ever Best Buddies Friendship Walk!
13 Champions kicked-off their Champion of the Year campaigns, which concluded with our 1st ever Annual Champion of the Year Gala First Michigan Staff Position Created
2019
Michigan’s Jobs Program launched in March Employer Partner, Kelly Services, hosted their first training and announced partnership in a Purpose Hour Kelly Services’ first hire was in July, and ended the year with three hires
Hosted over 250 Virtual Attendees throughout the 457 hours of virtual activities, events, Ambassador’s trainings and Job development Best Buddies Leadership Conference went virtual hosting over 4,000 students, staff, and community leaders from around the world
2020
8 Champions did an incredible job moving our mission forward, through a difficult year, in our 1st ever Virtual Champion of the Year Gala Best Buddies Michigan Jobs placed 5 new hires
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2020 Year In Review
$79,950
250+
Total Donations
Total Virtual Attendees
457 hours of brand-new virtual activities
427
4,970 Total Impacted
hours of virtual Job Development & Ambassador trainings
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Our Impact
14
497 14
4,970
10
2
600
12
70
5
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Our Programs Since 2017 we’ve launched our adult friendship program at Kelly Services through a Corporate Citizens chapter that now has over 12 participants, opened 14 new school programs, trained 5 new Ambassadors, and welcomed 60+ new community members into our e-buddies online pen pal program.
Middle School Chapters Brownell School Reuther Middle School
High School Chapters Skyline High School Notre Dame Prep
College Chapters Central Michigan University Eastern Michigan University Grand Valley State University Northern Michigan University Michigan State University Oakland University University of Michigan Washtenaw Community College + Wayne State University Western Michigan University + = new chapter
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Community Highlights
We hosted our first ever virtual Best Buddies Friendship Walk in June of 2020 where people from across the state walked in their own communities and neighborhoods to show support for our mission of inclusion.
More than $10,355 raised from over 123 donors
76+ walkers on 23+ teams This year’s Friendship Walk is on May 15th at The Amphitheater, Downtown Brighton. We hope to see you there! 11
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We gathered online this year to celebrate the power of friendship and inclusion at our annual gala. Our Champion Candidates dedicated their time and energy to raising funds and awareness for Best Buddies Minnesota. Over $53,090 raised 8 Champion Candidates More than 175 people watched from home
Congratulations to our Champion Candidates! Anne Moler Jennifer Dollar Megan Carlisle Brett Wagner
Megan Carlisle, 2020 Grand Champion
Claire Netemeyer Kurtis Masserant Sarah Woodstein Charles Jiang
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this year’s Champions on November 19th at The Henry Ford Museum!
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Thank You to Our Sponsors
Logicalis
Dominos Pizza
Entech
Camp Robin Hood
Bank of Ann Arbor
Color Street Foundation
Down Syndrome Support Team
Four Star Transportation
Domino’s Farms
Sun Communities
Lansing Ice and Fuel Company
Blackbirch Capital
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Jobs Highlight Kelly Services In 2019, as we opened our state office here in Michigan, Best Buddies partnered with Kelly Services to launch our integrated employment program (“Best Buddies Jobs”) for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since then, Kelly has hired three individuals with IDD to work at their corporate offices in Troy. Best Buddies has helped four other individuals with IDD find employment (outside of Kelly Services), with several more in the pipeline, and our Employment Consultant is constantly working to source new jobs and talent. Since the pandemic hit, our Jobs participants have been utilizing Google Classroom and Zoom calls to stay in touch and keep their job skills sharp. They also hold social calls and host virtual movie nights! Please enjoy this video produced by our partners at Kelly Services, which offers a peek into how important and rewarding integrated employment is for individuals with IDD, their families, and the employers who hire them. Your support of Best Buddies in Michigan has enabled us to source jobs for and to train and support people like Jordan.
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Our Advisory Board
Jennifer Dollar Senior Director, Business Process Enablement, Kelly Services
Samantha Robbins Photographer & Marketing Strategist, SRP Studio, LLC
John Tolmie, Board Chair Parent Advocate Chief Financial Officer, Arteva Homes/Arterra Realty (Retired)
Hannah Reutter Floor Support Staff, Playmakers
Jane Reutter Parent Advocate Owner & Hair Designer, Salon de bella
Sue Chaplin Parent Advocate Manager (Retired)
Lynn Wagner Parent Advocate
If you are interested in becoming a part of our Best Buddies in Michigan Advisory Board, please reach out to the Director of Mission Advancement, Kara Huber, at KaraHuber@bestbuddies.org. 16
Thank you for believing in the power of inclusion!
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About Best Buddies Creating communities of inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
One-To-One Friendship
Integrated Employment
Builds friendships between people
Secures jobs for people with IDD,
with and w/o IDD, offering social
allowing them to earn an income,
mentoring while improving the
pay taxes, and support
quality of life and level of inclusion.
themselves.
Leadership Development Educates and empowers people with and without IDD to be leaders, public speakers and
advocates.
Inclusive Living Fosters an integrated experience for people with and without IDD to live independently in a dynamic
environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive.
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Connect with Us! Social Media
@bestbuddiesmichigan Phone
734-219-5202 e-Mail
michigan@bestbuddies.org Visit Us
bestbuddies.org/Michigan/
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MAKE A FRIEND | DONATE | VOLUNTEER
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