Best Buddies in Ohio 2022 Impact Report

Thank you! You’re making a difference.

Message From Our State Director

Dear Friends,

All of us at Best Buddies in Ohio extend our most profound appreciation to our wonderful participants, families, volunteers, donors, and corporate partners for such a successful 2022! Your support and dedication to our mission helps our programs grow, creating more inclusive communities throughout our state.

This year, we had tremendous growth and successfully went from one statewide advisory board to two—one in Central Ohio, led by Justin Moodley. Connie Mehlman has stayed on as our statewide Advisory Board Chair, ensuring we are growing in other parts of the state. It has made a big difference. As you will see in the following pages, our impact has grown!

Happy Holidays to you and yours, and here’s to continued growth in 2023!

2

In Friendship, Catlin Skufca State Director Justin Moodley (Central Ohio) & Connie Mehlman (Statewide) Advisory Board Chairs pictured with Catlin Skufca, State Director

Here’s what we’ve accomplished, Because of your support in 2022

Cody & Bobbi

4 One-to-One Friendship Program 38 TOTAL CHAPTERS 2 Elementary 4 Middle Schools 17 High Schools 13 Colleges 2 Citizens 89 e-Buddies 1,500 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS in 21 Cities and 15 Counties 15,000 IMPACTED Westlake High School Cuyahoga Citizens

Ohio State University Kent State University

Meet Ashly & Hope

Hope and Ashly became a Citizens match this year. They enjoy spending time with each other's families, playing fetch with Ashly's dog Callie, going to football games, and especially dinner together!

We made 18 friendship matches in our Cuyahoga Citizens Chapter this year and can’t wait to continue in 2023!

5

Leadership Development Program 269

AMBASSADOR PARTICIPANTS

6

Meet Evan, Best Buddies Ambassador

7

“I made new friends and felt like myself again. As a guy with Autism, sometimes life can be challenging for me. People don’t always accept me for who I am. Best Buddies means a lot to me because we need to change how others see disabled people. Everyone deserves to be accepted for who they are.”

Evan and Lana, Friendship Match

8

In July, nearly 40 leaders from Ohio, both with and without IDD, attended our 31st Annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference. They participated in personalized training that develops the skills needed to organize and lead a Best Buddies chapter!

9

10 $86,000 More than 300 participants, corporate partners, and community members walked for inclusion in Columbus and Cincinnati! Raised Hannah & Ashley

More than 300 supporters came together for our annual Galas in Columbus and Cleveland to celebrate the collective efforts of our 15 Champions, who raised funds and awareness to support our mission!