Best Buddies Citizens pairs adults with intellectual disabilities in one-to-one friendships with adult volunteers in the community. Best Buddies Illinois is proud to serve more than 85 participants in the Chicago area. Each day around the world the mission happens in small and profound ways!
Why Citizens?
Just imagine your best friend... Now try to imagine your life without that person. Now imagine all your friends. Try to picture your life without any of them... For many people with intellectual disabilities, this is reality. The phone never rings...
After age 21, some individuals with intellectual disabilities may never spend time with anyone besides a paid caretaker and family (if there is any). You can make a tremendous difference in someone's life and all you have to do is be a friend.
What the Pair Does:
Citizens Buddy Pairs are asked to commit to a one-year relationship (that often continues longer). During that time, the Buddy and Citizen Buddy agree to talk once a week and see each other twice a month. What they do when they go out is up to them.
What are some other things Best Buddies Citizens asks of participants:
- Desire an opportunity to provide valuable self-esteem and social skills to someone who may not have access to numerous social outlets
- Be part of the Citizens Community by attending outings (when possible)
- Communicate with Best Buddies staff
- Participate in periodic program evaluations
- Have an open-mind
- Laugh and learn
- Also, the program asks volunteers to pay $15.00 to cover the cost of a background check (exemptions are definitely possible for students, low-income, etc...)
A Citizens Buddy Pair Needs:
-
A Buddy - This is the person with the intellectual disability who volunteers to be a friend.
-
A Citizen Buddy - This is the non-disabled community member who volunteers to be a friend.
-
A Sponsor - This person should know the Buddy well. A Sponsor helps the Program Manager to monitor the relationship. Sponsors are crucial to a successful relationship because they can help the Buddy and the Citizen Buddy solve problems that they may be facing in their relationship.
Normally the Sponsor also is the person who refers the Buddy to us in the first place. The Sponsor and the Program Manager are there to check up on the pairs, and help out when there are issues. However, the relationship is up to the Buddy and the Citizen Buddy.
They decide what activities to do and when they do them. We can recommend activities and the Program Manager will set up large group events for everyone to participate in, but they aren't required. The expectation is simply this: That the two will be friends.
What's Next:
Contact the Citizens Program Manager to get started on your path to friendship!
Can't commit to Citizens, Consider Other Ways to Support Best Buddies:
Join e-Buddies®
E-Buddies enacts the mission of Best Buddies through the Internet. The program fosters E-mail friendships between people with intellectual disabilities. Individuals are matched in E-mail friendships based on age, gender, geography, and similar interests. E-Buddies never matches individuals that reside in the same state. We ask members to E-mail each other at least once a week. E-Buddies provides individuals with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to develop new friendships while acquiring much needed computer skills. To learn more and sign up visit www.ebuddies.org
Join the Best Buddies Illinois Associate Board
This is a group of people in their 20s and 30s who are dedicated to raising awareness and funding for the organization. Their main event of the year is a fundraiser that brings in valuable money for our programs. The board meets a few times per year and each member gets to play a part in deciding the details of the fundraiser. If you are interested in the Associate Board please contact Eileen Murphy, State Director, at or .
Attend Upcoming Special Events
For more information about Best Buddies Citizens, contact:
Best Buddies Illinois
Josh Kaye, Program Manager
E-Mail: Phone:
Fax:
|
