Back to School, Back to Friendships Across Pennsylvania

As students return to classrooms across the Commonwealth, Best Buddies in Pennsylvania is celebrating the start of another exciting school year filled with friendship, leadership, and inclusion. The beginning of a new year is always a special time—it’s a chance for students to reconnect, welcome new members, and build communities that embrace everyone for who they are.

This year, Best Buddies in Pennsylvania proudly supports 169 school friendship chapters. These include 36 elementary schools, 43 middle schools, 60 high schools, and 28 colleges, each one creating opportunities for students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to form meaningful friendships, grow as leaders, and experience true belonging.

The impact of these chapters is significant. During the 2023–2024 school year, more than 8,000 students across the state participated in Best Buddies programs. Over the past five years, participation in Pennsylvania’s school friendship chapters has doubled, showing the growing demand and enthusiasm for inclusive communities. From friendship pairings and advocacy trainings to social events and service projects, our programs continue to transform the culture of schools and inspire students to lead with kindness.

Already this fall, chapters are buzzing with energy. Schools are hosting kickoff meetings, recruitment parties, and advocacy trainings, welcoming new members and setting the tone for another impactful year. These early activities help students build strong connections and create spaces where everyone feels included. The momentum is contagious—students are excited to join, teachers and advisors are energized to lead, and families see firsthand the positive change inclusion brings.

But the heart of Best Buddies’ back-to-school season isn’t just about numbers or events—it’s about the individual stories. It’s about the student who finds their first real friend, the leader who discovers their voice, and the school that begins to shift toward a culture of acceptance. Together, these moments create ripples of impact that extend far beyond the classroom.

Best Buddies in Pennsylvania is proud to stand alongside our students, educators, and families as we begin this new year. With every chapter meeting, every new friendship, and every act of advocacy, we are moving closer to a world where inclusion is not the exception, but the norm.

Here’s to a school year filled with connection, joy, and the power of friendship. Together, we’re making Pennsylvania a brighter, more inclusive place for all.