The Engelstad Foundation Generous Grant To Support Best Buddies in Nevada And Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities

Las Vegas, NV, April 6, 2023 — Best Buddies International, anonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is excited to announce a generous grant from The Engelstad Foundation to further our mission of inclusion by launching friendship programs. Best Buddies is built upon four key mission pillars: one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living. With the grant provided by The Engelstad Foundation, Best Buddies will focus on furthering our mission of inclusion through launching Friendship programs through the hiring of a full-time Program Manager. This additional staff member will support the existing 27 school chapters and opening an additional 6 school programs. This funding will also allow Best Buddies to sustain and grow the critical adult Citizen’s program for adults throughout the community. These programs will help people with IDD form meaningful one-to-one connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences, and activities with peers both with and without IDD. For more information about Best Buddies in Nevada, please contact State Director, Kristina Crawford at KristinaCrawford@bestbuddies.org, or 702-822-2268

ABOUT BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL

Best Buddies® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 3,000 elementary school, middle school, high school, and college Friendship and Promoter chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies’ nine formal programs — Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies®, Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters and Inclusive Living— engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 56 countries and territories, positively impacting the lives of over 1.3 million people with and without disabilities around the world. In many cases, as a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live independently, become inspirational leaders and build lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org or connect with us via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

ABOUT THE ENGELSTAD FOUNDATION

“The Engelstad Family believes in living investments. The Foundation subscribes to the phrase coined by Warren Buffett; “philanthrocapitalism”. We consider ourselves investors in unrecognized human possibilities. We have been fortunate to witness our gifts change peoples lives and after all, what else is there.” Learn more about The Engelstad Foundation by visiting www.engelstadfoundation.com