Harlem Globetrotters come to Southern California

When you think of the Harlem Globetrotters, you immediately imagine a large crowd full of smiling and awestruck faces as the Globetrotters perform their signature basketball twirls, tricks, and acrobatics.  That was exactly the reaction from the 20 Best Buddies California participants that had the opportunity to attend the February 18th Globetrotters game at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

The Community Outreach department at the Honda Center has had a 4 year long relationship with the Best Buddies California office and their participants. They often offer discounted tickets or complimentary passes to events like the Ducks Games, the Circus, Basketball Games, and other performances in their Anaheim venue.  This month, the community department generously donated 20 tickets to Best Buddies California with VIP parking passes, and a 20 person suite with box seats. Jessica Foults, Program Supervisor of the Best Buddies Southern California Friendship Programs, offered the tickets to some of her high school participants in the area.  Students from the Millikan High School Best Buddies Chapter in Long Beach, and the Esperanza High School Best Buddies Chapter in Anaheim were able to utilize the tickets and enjoy this fun event

Buddy Pair from Millikan High School in Long Beach

Best Buddies participants from Esperanza HS enjoying their Suite

Best Buddies participants in their box seats at the Honda Center

Best Buddies California often helps to provide affordable opportunities for their participants to enjoy an outing as a group, or in Buddy Pairs.  Best Buddies participants at the school level are matched in one-to-one friendships (or Buddy Pairs), and participate in activities together over the course of the year.  Participants commit to weekly contact and 2 one-to-one activities each month.

www.harlemglobetrotters.com

Southern California Chapters Come out for Bingo, Stay to Talk the Walk!

We Walk as One is the rallying cry of Best Buddies CA’s (BBCA) 2012 SoCal Friendship Walk - a fitting theme for an event that is both strengthened and humbled by the size of its community participation. “If the Kick-Off event doesn’t prove how much strength and conviction is held within the Southern California Best Buddies Chapters, I don’t know what will. Tonight truly proves the power of unity and friendship on which Best Buddies is founded,” David Grazer, Development Coordinator, Best Buddies CA.

On Wednesday night, at El Dorado Golf Course in Long Beach, Best Buddies California and Walk Chairman, Cheri Foreman, hosted its official Friendship Walk/Bingo Kick-Off.

This was a night not only to launch the push to cross the $40,000 fundraising threshold, but a night for buddy pairs to come and enjoy a night out with some good ol’ fashion bingo fun and share their personal stories about Best Buddies and its ability to help transform communities. Five new team captains registered their teams on the website, and everyone who registered got a goody plus a bag of Best Buddies Blend coffee, provided by Cheri Foreman and her husband Toby.

The night kicked off with a few short remarks from Patty Evans, BBCA State Director, Jessica Foults, Friendship Program Supervisor, Southern California, and Walk Chair Cheri Foreman about the importance and social reach of the walk.   But it was the University of California, Irvine (UCI) chapter who brought the house to its feet as they shared with the crowd how BBCA had influenced their lives for the better and why the walk means so much to them. “The stories of our buddies, that’s what this night was about. It drives home the importance and the impact of what these students do on their campuses. We are so proud of our UCI for continuing to inspire and be a crucial element to the mission of Best Buddies,” Patty Evans, State Director, Best Buddies CA.

With such an incredible turnout, there is no question that this year’s walk will be a phenomenal success and continue to spark the movement toward a more inclusive social landscape.  Patty reminded the audience that fundraising for their teams should be fun.  “Remember,” she said, “when you ask someone for a donation, you’re doing them a favor.  You’re giving them the opportunity to support and be a part of creating a more humane and open society for everyone.” 

The BBCA SoCal Walk is on Saturday, April 21^st at Shoreline Park in Long Beach.  If you have not already registered as a team captain or joined an established team for the SoCal Walk go to: www.bestbuddiescalifornia.org/socalwalk. 

And if you are from Northern California, be sure to register at: www.bestbuddiescalifornia.org/sfwalk for the walk at Crissy Field, Saturday, April 28, 2012.

We look forward to seeing you out at both walks.

Remember: We Walk as One!

San Francisco Kicks Off 2012 Walk with night at Crissy Field’s Sports Basement

Friday, February 10-- Students, friends, board members, parents and community members gathered at Crissy Field’s Sports Basement to celebrate San Francisco Bay Area’s upcoming Friendship Walk on April 28, 2012. After hearing touching stories of friendship from three Buddy Ambassadors, the group was treated to refreshments and 10% off Sports Basement merchandise. Ten percent of the evening’s sales benefited Best Buddies California.

The Bay Area speakers, as always, did a fabulous job at the kickoff. John Coulter and his buddy, Jonie, talked about their friendship, how much they love spending time together, and some of the favorite things they have done since becoming a pair. Jonie said she loves how laid back John is and that they can just go hang out at the beach. Angel Ng then spoke about his experience with Best Buddies and that he wouldn’t have as many friends without it. John Hammond closed the night with his speech about how much he looks up to Anthony Kennedy Shriver and everything he has done for people with disabilities.

“We had a passionate turnout from our most dedicated supporters,” Andrea Coen, San Francisco Area Director, Best Buddies CA.  “Our Buddy Ambassadors, as always, were the highlight of the evening. Hearing stories about the powerful experiences they’ve each encountered in Best Buddies reminds me of why it is so important to grow our reach in the community. We look forward to doing this at our Friendship Walk in April.”+

Remember to register for the walk at: www.bestbuddiescalifornia.org/sfwalk

If you are in the Southern California region register at: www.bestbuddiescalifornia.org/socalwalk on Saturday, April 21 2012 at Shoreline Park, Long Beach.

We Walk as One!

A trip up the Hill with State Director Patty Evans

On Wednesday, Feb. 8^th, David Gauthier, a Jobs participant, and I had the honor to participate in 2012 Capitol Hill Day, a one-day advocacy blitz organized jointly by Special Olympics Inc. and Best Buddies International.  Representatives from both organizations came to Washington DC from 40 states to participate in over 300 meetings on the Hill with Senators and Congresspeople to advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Our focus this year was two-fold:  1) securing co-sponsors of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act which would provide funding for both SO and BB to sustain our respective programs, including global initiatives; and, 2) to argue against cuts in the annual budget which provides discretionary funding for SO, particularly their Project Unify program.

BBCA was lucky enough to partner up with Jan Palchikoff, VP of Programs for Special Olympics/Southern California and an incredibly impressive young woman, Nicole Nelson, a multi-sport athlete and medal winner.  As a group, we visited the offices of Reps  Laura Richardson, Lois Capps, David Dreier, Joe Baca, Darrell Issa, Maxine Waters, Duncan Hunter, Ed Royce and Lucille Roybal-Allard.  While our meetings covered both sides of the aisle, we were welcomed everywhere with cordiality, organizational recognition and a promise to look into the specifics of our requests.  We secured four commitments to co-sponsor the EKS Act from the offices of Cong. Richardson, Waters, Baca and Roybal-Allard.  While funding commitments are always more problematic, everyone was grateful to hear how the annual funding supported programs in the field and how they’d be affected by further cuts.

Two bright spots of the day:  We got to meet with Cong. Laura Richardson herself.  When her aide heard that our own David Gauthier knew her personally from his work in Long Beach, she asked us to come over to the Capitol where she was tied up with votes.  We were able to spend a good 20 minutes with her.  When she heard that Nicole’s favorite sport was basketball, Cong. Richardson challenged her to a one on one match!  More to come on that!  She also personally invited us to take a tour of the capitol when our meetings ended.  Although we ended too late for a tour, Devin Benavidez, her aide, was able to secure passes for the four of us to get into the visitors’ gallery at the Capitol.  We watched about 20 minutes of House debate.  Although it was hard to tell, it sounded like they were debating the extension of unemployment benefits.  It was a thrill for all of us to be able to see our government in action – something in all my years of living and working in, and traveling to DC, I’d never been able to do before.

The long day ended with a moving candlelight vigil at the Reflecting Pool by the Capitol where Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics Inc., spoke to about 100 of us (in the rain).  He reminded us how important our work was and thanked everyone for making the trip. 

David and I were so grateful to be able participate in this important exercise in self-advocacy and education.  I used to work for someone who said that one call or visit from a constituent is worth 10 from a lobbyist.  If that’s true, we from Best Buddies and Special Olympics from all over the country, made a huge impact on Wednesday.  We spoke for you and for all the wonderful young people, jobs participants and athletes whom we serve – we made our voices heard. 

Patty Evans, State Director

Best Buddies CA