B”H
Philly Friendship Circle Winter Newsletter 2023
Dear Friends, Everyday, we have the honor of creating and supporting inclusive friendships. But in all our years, we’ve not yet done so with the state of the world we are in right now…
We know that our job is to bring in more light. Together, as a community, we are proud to be who we are and celebrate it. Not only do we not cancel programs; we continue, with proper safety measures, welcoming new friends to our circle every week! Right now, it is essential for us to put ourselves in uplifting & positive environments. With that, thank YOU for joining us on The (joyful) Journey of Friendship! In Gratitude & Friendship, Chani & Zev Baram Co-Founders
Each time we gather, we create a little “world” unlike any other. We always open Sunday Circle with a “Teen Orientation.” But our teens’ free time is sparse! So, this year, we trained ourselves in how to gather more purposefully. Through curated educational experiences, teens get a refresher in disability inclusion every week. Everyone drops their phones in a box for the duration of the program! And Teen Orientation is now… Friendship 101. (Yes, snacks are still included.)
Being in the “business” of friendship for over 19 years, we know that true friendship is a journey. So we keep showing up! To be that light for each other. (And to ask for support whenever we need it!) That is why we introduced our new concept this school year: The Journey of Friendship. To normalize and support wherever each friend may be in their journey, day to day. Scan this code to read more about it!
We are spreading our mission of building inclusive friendships to local schools. Tzvi, who just started Sunday Circle, was in one of our recent intro-to-inclusion workshops. When we asked his class what “The Journey of Friendship” might mean, Tzvi spoke up right away–and relayed the entire concept to his classmates! “Aha” moments like these tell us that students are really “getting it.”
I am empowered We held our 1st full Teen Leadership meeting of the year at Reach Climbing and Fitness. Leaders on the ground verbally led fellow Leaders–who were blindfolded–up the walls!
Here’s a Friends@Home win for 2 new friends! “Ezra and I have been having lots of fun. He has been creating his own games, most recently with the use of stuffed animals and beach balls! His imagination is off the charts.” - Zach Levin
I am accepted “We weren’t used to being able to drop our son Jake off without staying to support him. Once we realized that the people at Philly Friendship Circle were capable of looking after him, we felt lucky to know he was in good hands. Jake loves going to Sunday Circle and his sister, Zoey, adores it too!” - Laura & Peter Slutsky
“Thank you for the amazing program… I had so much fun & felt so myself!” - Rachel Schneider, 1st Year Teen Leader Rachel guiding a fellow (blindfolded) Leader up the wall!
We GATHERED FOR GOOD at our most joyful Philly Friendship Walk yet! Over 600 friends joined us. There were countless mini-moments where people realized their connections to each other and strangers became new friends. We finally have a mascot! Meet Simcha the Circle! WE RAISED $130K #FORFRIENDSHIP!
Good friends, good food, and a VERY good cause: to be part of building a more inclusive world.
Light the way for us! Please consider us in your end-of-year giving.
2023 may be ending, but we still have 6 more months of inclusive programs to run this school year. Ways to give: Credit Card
PayPal
CashApp
Corporate Match
Check
Venmo
Stock/Bonds
Legacy Gifts
Philly Friendship Circle connects teens and young adults to youth with special needs and their families through a full range of social offerings. Inspired by the power of genuine friendships, our youth cultivate understanding, kindness, and responsibility while ensuring a caring and inclusive community. phillyfriendship.org
info@phillyfriendship.com
215-574-1765
With support from Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia | Founded by Chabad-Lubavitch