Buddy Ambassador John Coulter Awarded Client of the Month at the Arc for his Public Work in Best Buddies

Buddy Ambassador John Coulter has been recognized by the Arc of San Francisco for his work in Best Buddies California. Through the Buddy Ambassadors program, John advocates for social inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. John completed his Buddy Ambassador training in March. He has since spoken at the Best Buddies California 5k Friendship Walk/Run, and at University of San Francisco Best Buddies chapter meetings.

John C. Speaking to the Bay Area Walk Participants

John brings a dynamic energy and natural charisma to his public speaking. Before the crowd of Friendship Walk participants at Crissy Field this spring, he stared intensely and pointed his finger, saying, “I’m looking at you, and I see Giants fans!” John knows how to connect with his audience, provoke, and excite.

John’s social prowess is a boon to his Best Buddies chapter at the University of San Francisco. John organizes group activities and one-to-one friendships between USF students and clients of the Arc. John brings his extroversion to bear in recruiting new members to the chapter, motivating chapter members, and making everyone feel welcome during events.

John has been a member of the USF Buddies chapter for several years. In the last year, he has enjoyed a deep and lasting friendship with USF senior Kelsey Jones. The two enjoy talking on the phone, eating out, volunteering, and going to sporting events. They also participate in USF chapter events together. John’s favorite events always involve the cheerleaders of the USF spirit squad.

John C. Hugging one of the Cheerleaders

USF Best Buddies was founded in 1989 and worked with two local high schools until 2007, when it established a lasting relationship with the Arc of San Francisco. The Arc of San Francisco is a non-profit service and advocacy organization for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families living in San Francisco and San Mateo counties.

The Client Advisory Committee of the Arc of San Francisco voted John Client of the Month in July. The Client Advisory Committee (CAC) is a group of self-advocates at the Arc. Best Buddies staff and chapter members are overjoyed that John’s work has garnered such public recognition.

http://thearcsf.org/self-advocates/ - link to page on Arc of SF website detailing the award given to John C. and its reasons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXNmdTmahR8&feature=youtu.be – link to Youtube of John’s speech at the Friendship Walk.

Best Buddies California Student with Disabilities Selected for BP's Summer Youth Program!

Best Buddies California is excited to announce that British Petroleum (BP) has selected a young woman with disabilities to participate in their prestigious BP Summer Youth Program. In 2011 BP interviewed over 100 students to take part in their 6 week paid internship program. Only 20 students were selected to participate, and Jessica C. was thrilled to make the cut! 

On Saturday June 18^th all of the interns met for the very first time to go through a special orientation process where they were fitted with protective gloves, eye wear, reinforced boots, and blue coveralls. After the fitting, employment paperwork was signed and everyone had their picture taken for a special BP identification badge.

Jessica in her protective eyewear

After celebrating July 4^th with family and friends, all of the interns reported for BP safety training on July 5^th. If you think that these interns start work at 9:00am, think again. Every morning starts at 7:00am and being late is not tolerated. Last week was spent learning everything there is to know about safety policies and procedures at the refinery. A test was issued to every intern, and Jessica passed with an 80%! 

All interns are required to wear their Blue Jumpsuit Every Day

Best Buddies California will continue to follow Jessica as she is assigned to her official Supervisor and summer duties at BP. Stay tuned for more posts!

    

Best Buddies California Participant has a Celebrity Photo Shoot with Guy Fieri

Best Buddies California’s very own Michael Wireman had a very special opportunity to meet and participate in a photo shoot with celebrity chef, Guy Fieri.  Guy, who is most widely known for his hit Food Network TV show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, was in San Francisco this week to shoot promotional photographs for his new line of Guy Fieri’s Barbecue Sauce. Being a long time friend of Best Buddies, he kindly invited a Buddy to participate in a very exclusive photo shoot just for our organization. 

Michael Wireman and Guy Fieri

Michael Wireman, a 16-year-old student and member of the Vacaville High School Best Buddies chapter was chosen as the lucky Buddy!  Michael participated in the Buddy Ambassador Program last March where he stood out as an exceptional personality while on stage delivering his speech.  Everyone knew he would shine just as bright in front of the camera next to a celebrity. 

Just as expected, Michael and Guy hit it off right away, goofing off on the photo shoot set.  Guy gave Michael one of his signature, flashy chef’s coats to wear and they hung out like a couple of California dudes, equipped with sunglasses and listening to classic rock music. 

After the shoot, Michael sampled some of Guy’s delicious and spicy barbecue sauces on top of a heaping portion of ribs.  He was sent home with an autographed case of the new bottled barbecue line and an invitation to cook with Guy in one of his restaurants in Santa Rosa, California this summer.

Support Best Buddies CA as You Honor Your Mom on Mother’s Day

How do you plan to show your mom some love this Mother’s Day?    Maybe it’s always the same thing or you want to try something new.  Whatever the case, BBCA is proud to announce that this year you can find her the perfect gift and raise valuable dollars for Best Buddies California at the same time. 

BBCA has joined Buy4 as a charity partner.  Buy4 is an amazing online shopping site with over 100 of your favorite top name retailers, each of whom donates a percentage of the purchase price back to us.  You’ll find all your favorite stores - Amazon, Wal-Mart, TARGET, Macy’s, 24 Hour Fitness, Mrs. Beasley’s and a whole collection of on-line florists.  Whether your mom likes books, chocolates, a beautiful bouquet, perfume or even a gym membership, you can find it on Buy4.  And, each time you make a purchase, money comes back to Best Buddies California to support our programs on behalf of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

It’s easy!  All you have to do is go to BBCA’s portal on Buy4 www.buy4.com/bestbuddiesca and join as a member – there’s no cost at all to you!  Everything’s the same with the purchase except that the retailer has agreed to donate a percentage of your purchase price back to us.    

So, this Mother’s Day on May 8^th, let your mom know that you love her and thank her for all that she does for you.  Send her the perfect gift that also gives to Best Buddies.   She’ll thank you and we’ll thank you.

And, don’t forget to use Buy4 for all your gift-giving needs – or even when you’re buying those sneakers or electronic equipment for yourself.  Every purchase means valuable support for Best Buddies CA.  Use Buy4 and tell your friends!  

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and grandmothers of Best Buddies CA!  We couldn’t do it without you.  We love you.

Thank you. 

Patty Evans

State Director

Best Buddies Friendship Walk – San Francisco: A Moving Success

Best Buddies California is overjoyed at the success of the first-ever Best Buddies California Friendship Walk that occurred this past Saturday, April 16^th in San Francisco!  Over 160 participants with and without disabilities walked along Crissy Fields against the backdrop of sunny skies and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Walkers hailed from high schools, colleges and the greater Bay Area community, joining together to walk in support of inclusion and friendship for all.  In doing so, these individuals collectively raised over $23,000 in support of Best Buddies and our local programs. 

The day began with a group work-out led by aerobics instructor Amy Haines from the Harbor Bay Club and the University of San Francisco’s Spirit Squad.  The crowd listened to a terrific line-up, including former Mayor of San Francisco, The Honorable Mayor Willie L. Brown and three Buddy Ambassadors.

Mayor Brown addressed the crowd, stating, “Walking is redemptive. What you are doing by being here, here and at your Walks across the country, is so important.”

Mayor Willie L. Brown of San Francisco

Buddy Ambassadors Michael Kelly, John Coulter, and John Hammond, and Peer Buddy Krisna Tahija, described the importance of Best Buddies in their lives:

Michael Kelly said, “I love Best Buddies. I was in the Best Buddies program in Palo Alto High School, the first Best Buddies program in the Bay Area. Now, I am a Buddy Ambassador.”

 “I like Best Buddies because of friends and events,” reported John Coulter.

John Hammond declared, “I think Best Buddies is a great organization. There are three reasons why: We have fun events.  Through these events, and through one-to-one friendships, we get to learn about people. By making friends, we become better people.”

Krisna shared, “This relationship I have with John has taught me so much about what being a true friend really means. Best Buddies is so much more than ‘help.’ It is learning how to be a friend…. Genuine friendships are kind of hard to find. People often spend a lifetime looking for these without establishing a successful one. Which is why when we do find a genuine friend, one who’s not trying to gain anything specific from you, we cherish that moment.”

Walking Around Crissy Field

Speakers and walkers alike embodied the spirit and community that is Best Buddies.  Students with and without disabilities traveled from as far south as Cupertino High School, as far north as Jesse Bethel High School, and as far east as Alameda High School to take part in the Friendship Walk: changing lives one step at a time!

Best Buddies Chapter President wins MLK Youth Social Justice Award

Gabby accepts her award

Gabby Momah, a Senior and the Chapter President at Diamond Bar High School won the Martin Luther King Junior Youth Social Justice Award. The award, along with a monetary prize, is given to young people ages 15-19 who have "made a difference in their communities, neighborhoods and schools" and who have "demonstrated, by their daily actions, that the spirit of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is alive."


Gabby is at the top of her class at Diamond Bar High School, and wrote a touching essay about her experiences with the Best Buddies program at her High School to win the competition. Her essay is below.


Essay Submission by Gabby Momah:

Consider the following word: Sawubona. This traditional South African greeting is not just a simple “how are you”. Instead, “Sawubona” translates to “I see you”. Apart from its literal meaning, the phrase “I see you” explains that one recognizes the other’s existence and appreciates whatever talent or skill he or she brings to society. Four years ago, an international non-profit organization named Best Buddies adopted this African greeting “I see you” as a replacement for the standard “hello”. Best Buddies is an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual disabilities worldwide. The phrase “I see you” reinforces the inclusive principle Best Buddies is built on – that people with intellectual disabilities should be viewed as equals, as co-workers and as friends. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” As four year member and in my second year as President of my high school Best Buddies chapter, I have put Reverend King’s teachings of social justice into action, demonstrating to my community that people with intellectual disabilities are valued at home, in schools and in the workplace.

I joined Best Buddies my freshman year because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of individuals with mental disabilities. I believed the club’s main goal was the same as mine: to promote social equality among all Diamond Bar students. However, at the first meeting I attended, I saw many of the special buddies by themselves and alone while other members and officers of the club did nothing about it. The chapter consisted of roughly twenty other high school students like me, and ten other buddies, like Lex. However, even with thirty people involved, many members did not sign up for events and outings the club hosted. Our chapter had the right intentions; however no one wanted to take responsibility and keep the mission of Best Buddies alive at every meeting. I knew something had to be done about this; these Best Buddy students deserved more than that. My sophomore year, I ran for Best Buddies president. It was abnormal for someone as young as I was to run for this position, but I was determined to become a leader in this organization. After the interview and application process, I was announced as the new Best Buddies president.

Since becoming president of Best Buddies, I have put my dreams for social equality into action. Our club now meets every week and transformed from 20 members my freshman year to over 80 dedicated members who are excited to attend meetings and events. As my first act of social justice, I started an annual rally at my school called “Spread the Word to End the Word”, where students pledge to end their derogatory use of the “r”-word (retarded) to describe  any human being. Over 800 students at my school participated and our rally was featured in the school newspaper, read by over 3,500 students. In addition, I continued our annual Social Surf, where students with and without disabilities travel around campus, befriending other students at school. Because of this Surf, many special buddies have gained respect from their classmates and no longer feel isolated and degraded. My chapter also started doing community service, recycling and cleaning beaches, for the first time in the history of our school. For the past two years as president, my chapter has received state recognition, dubbed the “Best” Best Buddies chapter in California my junior year. If it were not for my club advisor Mrs. Linda Munsey, I would have been able to take our Best Buddies chapter to a new level. Mrs. Munsey truly has helped me reach my goals with the club through her guidance and organization. I do not know where the club would be without her. It is to her that I am truly grateful; without her Gates Millennium Scholarship recommendation, I would not receive a full ride scholarship for the next ten years of education.

This past summer at our end of the year celebration, my buddy Calvin’s father came up to me and thanked me. I asked him, “what for?” With tears trickling from his eyes, he replied, “You have changed my son’s life for the better, he no longer comes home from school sad, or sullen as he once did. He comes home vibrant and excited to go back to more fun, more laughter, more Best Buddies. Thank you.”  Moments like these are why I have devoted countless hours to this organization. There are no community service hours for those who volunteer. But to promote social equality and be a part of something bigger than myself—well frankly, that’s the true reward.