Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Best Buddies Palm Beach
Legal Name (if Different): Best Buddies International, Inc.
Also Known As: Best Buddies
Mailing Address: 1655 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. | Suite 505
City: West Palm Beach
State: Florida
Postal Code: 33401
Main Phone: 561.972.5312
Main Fax: 561.557.2109
Organization Website: https://www.bestbuddies/florida
Employer ID Number: 52-1614576
Organization Tax Status: 501c3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 03/13/2019
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Best Buddies Palm Beach Friendship and Leadership Program
Project Description:

The Best Buddies Palm Beach Friendship Program builds one-to-one friendships between students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), offering social mentoring while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion for a population that is often isolated and excluded. Through their participation, people with IDD form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences and activities that everyone should enjoy.

BBI staff recruit, train, and guide faculty and student leaders in running successful chapters. At each middle and high school, a faculty advisor and a special education advisor work with student leaders to recruit students with IDD (buddies) to be matched in one-to-one friendships with students without disabilities (peer buddies). Best Buddies requires that new friends contact each other once per week and that they spend time together at least twice per month.

One major key to the success of our project design is the one year commitment required of all buddy pairs. This continuity allows for meaningful friendships to develop while providing a mutually supportive community for participants.

Goals for this project include:
1) Increase opportunities for socialization and inclusion of people with IDD
2) Help individuals with IDD develop life skills critical to furthering education and employment
3) Provide opportunities for leadership development in middle school, high school, and college students, so that they will continue to improve their communities
4) Increase awareness of the abilities of people with IDD in students and community members

With the support of the The Charles and Joan Hermanowski Foundation, our programs will continue to create a ripple effect of change by empowering communities to embrace individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to create a more inclusive world.

Total Project Budget: 138,802

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): $50,000

Project Duration: 7/1/2019 to 6/30/2020
Geographical Area Served: Palm Beach County
Age Group To Be Served: 6-21

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Tricia
Contact Last Name: Williams
Contact Title: Palm Beach Area Director
Contact Phone: 561.972.5312
Contact Email: triciawilliams@bestbuddies.org