Community Corner
Best Buddies of Tampa Creates Connections
A nonprofit local chapter matches people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in one-to-one friendships with non-disabled folks.
Best Buddies of Tampa is a nonprofit organization that serves those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Cynthia Salas, area director for the organization at 4302 Henderson Blvd., spoke with Patch about the program and how the community can get involved.
Patch: What is the purpose of the Best Buddies organization?
Salas: Best Buddies is a volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-on-one friendships between disable and non-disabled middle school, high school and college students.
Patch: How did Best Buddies come about?
Salas: While the Tampa chapter has been around for about nine years, Best Buddies is an international organization that was started 23 years ago by Anthony Kennedy Shriver in Miami. Shriver started the movement while he was in college and noticed that he did not see a lot of integration and wanted to help disabled and non-disabled students connect. There are currently chapters in every state and in 26 countries.
Patch: Does Best Buddies of Tampa have any local sponsors or partners?
Salas: Yes, Whole Foods has been a great sponsor for our organization. Other partners that assist us are Audi Tampa, Dex Imaging, Ye Loyal Krewe of Samuel Bellamy, Castellano & Pizza and Business Buddies Tampa.
Patch: Tell us about the Business Buddies Program.
Salas: Business Buddies is another program of ours that is a group of professional individuals that volunteer and put on fundraisers and help our organization in many ways. They are a huge resource of ours. Some of their annual events include Havana Nights and the Holiday Ball. The annual Best Buddies Golf Tournament is coming up at TPC in Lutz on November 4.
Patch: How can people get involved with Best Buddies?
Salas: There are many opportunities for volunteers. We always need people to help before and after our events. People can volunteer as committee or board members or even just assist with tasks in our office. We just require a training and background check, only if the volunteer will be working with or monitoring our buddies.
To learn more about Best Buddies and find out how to volunteer, call (813) 254-9025 or visit www.bestbuddiesflorida.org/.
