Best Buddies in Virginia & DC

Volunteer at the Best Buddies Friendship Walk!? ? Who?Individuals of all ages and abilities, community volunteer groups, and company volunteer groups passionate about?inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.?? ? What?The Best Buddies Friendship Walk?is the leading event in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Volunteer at set-up, check-in, activity tents, and get ready to cheer, dance & more!?? ? When and where? ?? April 13th?– Richmond Friendship Walk at the?Richmond Kickers Soccer Club City Stadium? ?? April 26th?– Washington, DC Friendship Walk on the National Mall? ? Why?Support for individuals with IDD. This historic event fosters genuine friendships, promotes inclusivity, and raises vital funds for Best Buddies in Virginia & DC. Get ready to celebrate inclusion!? ? How?? ?? Sign up to volunteer at the Richmond Friendship Walk:?https://lnkd.in/dZf8GmA7?? ?? Sign up to volunteer at?the Washington, DC Friendship Walk:?https://lnkd.in/d9XTtVbn?? ? ?#Volunteer #GiveBack #VolunteerDC #VolunteerRVA?#Inclusion #BestBuddies?

??Thank you to our partners in inclusion???? ? When companies sponsor events like the Best Buddies Friendship Walk, they’re saying?yes?to meaningful inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — in the workplace, at schools, in leadership roles, and beyond. Their generous support helps us continue delivering high-quality programs right here in Virginia & DC, and we’re proud to be partners in inclusion! A heartfelt thank you to Embassy of the State of Qatar, Jim Feldman & Nancy Wexler, TCMA for Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Navy Federal Credit Union, Holland & Knight LLP, Destination DC, The Bartolozzi Team, Capital One Park, RiverFront Wealth Advisors, the Richmond Kickers Soccer Club, Striking Media, and POWER UP Productions?for championing inclusion and making this event possible. Your commitment fuels this movement - thank you for walking alongside us!? Want to add your name to this list? There's still time in both Richmond and Washington, DC. Reach out to us today! #FriendshipWalk #BestBuddies #Partners #Inclusion?

? We Walk for Friendship ? The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is more than just a walk - it’s a movement of love, inclusion, and lifelong friendships. This event is inclusion, the power of friendship in action, and a way for us to come together to create a world where everyone belongs! Register today and be the reason someone feels seen, valued, and included. ?? April 13th - Richmond, VA https://lnkd.in/ead--mRA ?? April 26th - Washington, DC https://lnkd.in/e5a3yNGg #FriendshipWalk #BestBuddies #InclusionMatters?

Please join us in congratulating Shane and Zara, two of our Virginia & DC State Ambassadors, on their selection as Best Buddies Global Ambassadors! Zara and Shane are wonderful advocates for inclusion and have proven themselves to be effective, eloquent speakers for the Best Buddies mission and role models within the disability rights movement. ??“Being a Best Buddies Global Ambassador means the world to me as an older brother of someone with IDD. Being a Best Buddies Global Ambassador allows me to share and connect with families and advocates like myself all around the world. It is such an honor to represent an organization at its highest that has truly changed my life along with so many others.”?– Shane ??“Being a Best Buddies Global Ambassador means I get to collaborate with people who have inspired me through their incredible work, and I’m now honored to work alongside them to make a difference. Through this role, I have the chance to grow as a leader while helping to create a more inclusive world and, hopefully, inspiring others to get involved as well.”?– Zara Zara and Shane were among 13 State Ambassadors from around the world asked to serve as 2025-2026 Global Ambassadors for Best Buddies International.?This incredible honor is a?testament?to their hard work and dedication to creating inclusive communities. We can't wait to see what they do next! Meet Shane:?https://lnkd.in/gqcFCBvB?? ? Meet Zara:?https://lnkd.in/g_wHJqup

We're Hiring!? ? Best Buddies in Virginia & DC is looking for a?Lead Program Manager?to join our team and help expand our mission of inclusion across the Greater Richmond, Tidewater, or Virginia Beach area! If you’re passionate about building connections, creating opportunities, and driving change, this role is for you. You’ll lead efforts to grow our programs, foster partnerships, and make a long-lasting impact in communities. ??What we’re looking for:? * A self-starter ready to make connections and build community? * An adaptable and motivated team player * Someone with experience in volunteer management ???Location:?Flexible in Greater Richmond, Tidewater, or Virginia Beach ? We're excited for you to join our team! ?? Know someone perfect for the role? Tag them! Ready to apply or learn more ?? https://lnkd.in/gxuy6FGp ? #Hiring?#WeAreHiring?#NowHiring?#JobOpportunity #Nonprofit

SAVE THE DATE! Best Buddies Friendship Walk in Richmond, VA: April 13th, 2025. ? It's free to register and attend! We can't wait to celebrate the growth of our wonderful programs in the greater Richmond area at the Richmond Kickers Soccer Club City Stadium.? ? Register today: https://lnkd.in/ead--mRA

SAVE THE DATE! Best Buddies Friendship Walk in Washington, DC: April 26th, 2025, with emcee Eileen Whelan. It's free to register and attend! We can't wait to celebrate inclusion and friendship with you on the National Mall! Register today: https://lnkd.in/e5a3yNGg

Congratulations and welcome to Sofia McDaniel, J.D., who is joining us as the Chair of the Best Buddies Friendship Walk in Richmond, Virginia! Sofia has an incredible volunteer and advocacy background, and we are so grateful for her support and excited for her to lead the Richmond Friendship Walk to new heights!

The 2025 Best Buddies Friendship Walk T-shirt design is live! Did you know you could get your logo featured on the back??? ?? When you partner with Best Buddies in Virginia & DC and your logo will be:?? ?? On the back of?2,000 shirts worn by our walkers on walk day and beyond? ?? On signage?proudly displayed?throughout the event?? ?? In event communications to over 30,000 contacts and more!?? ? We offer engagement opportunities for your company and employees, such as:?? ?? Individual kickoff events to learn more about our mission and programs?? ???One-time and ongoing volunteer opportunities?? ?? Team-building experiences, such as “cheer zones” at our events, joining a Friendship Walk team, or hosting in-office inclusion activities with Best Buddies!?? ?? In 2025, we’ll host TWO?walks—one on the iconic?National Mall in Washington, DC, and another in vibrant?Richmond, VA!?This means even more opportunities for visibility and impact.?? ? Become a partner of inclusion today! For more information and to get started, please reach out to Director of Development, Mary Schafhauser, at?[email protected]???

Calling all Best Buddies parents and friends! ? We are excited to share that on?Wed, Jan 22 at 5:45 pm?– we are offering a FREE webinar for parents! Join the experts at Kevin Martin Law for valuable insights into how a Special Needs Trust (SNT) can help provide security for the future of an individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities.?Even if you have an SNT – join us to connect and enhance your knowledge!? ? This is the?first in a series of Best Buddies Parent Webinars for 2025, and in this gathering, you will also be able to learn more about our parent initiatives and resources – including our jobs and transitions programs, plans for 2025 to create a parent community; and connect with other local parents of special needs students and adults. Register here: https://lnkd.in/edBhsvDp