Hollywood Player Goes Bowling for Buddies

On November 7, 2011, over one hundred Best Buddies CA Jobs program supporters showed up at Lucky Strike LA Live! ready to raise a little money for the Jobs program and compete for a trophy and bragging rights for the next year.

Sponsored by Hollywood Player, the movie-themed video game site, Bowling for Buddies included the bowling tournament, a poker tournament, the chance to challenge a pool champion, video gaming tournament, and amazing raffle prizes. Not to mention great food and one of LA’s best locations, Lucky Strike LA Live!

Best Buddies CA Jobs invited our employer partners to participate by sponsoring bowling teams from their companies and we are proud to say that eight of them brought teams (FIJI Water brought 3 teams!), with an additional three company teams coming from the community. Additionally, we received donations for gift bags and raffle prizes from many other companies in our community.

The night was full of fun and friendship, but more than that, it was full of our mission.  Plans are underway for the 2012 tournament, bigger, better and closer!  Stay tuned and start training to win back the trophy from Goldline International. 

Bowling for Buddies GSO Team

Best Buddies CA Jobs program thanks the following companies for their support:

Allan Company

Burn 60

Equinox Century City

Fiji Water

Goldline International

GSO Business Management

Hollywood Player

ICM

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart

Office of the Mayor of Los Angeles

OPI

Paradigm

Sprouts Farmers Market

Best Buddies CA Jobs Programs 2011 Highlights

In 2011, Best Buddies Jobs:

1.      Welcomed Oliver*, Jessica, Jasmine, Lauren, Ian, Alex, Shelly, and Kurt into the BBJ program

2.      Participated in the BBCA Friendship Walk – Jobs’ participants Lisa K., Colby P., and David G. were top fundraisers

3.      Joined employer partner ICM in saying a heartfelt goodbye to treasured employee of 14 years, Colby P.

Best Buddies Jobs participant Colby P. says goodbye to his coworkers at ICM

4.      Welcomed Paula Johnson, the new Director of Jobs at Best Buddies International

5.      Celebrated Jobs participant Kevin M.’s 10 years of employment at GUESS? Inc.  in December

6.      Organized a Flashmob in Santa Monica to raise awareness of BBCA and our programs. This event was featured on CBS 2 News in Los Angeles.

Best Buddies supporter Jeanine Mason (winner of So You Think You Can Dance Season 5) leads BBCA buddies in our first ever Flashmob

7.      Launched our Jobs parents’ support group with our inaugural meeting in March

8.      Welcomed Entertainment Tonight, British Petroleum, Equinox Century City, Goldline International, FOX Operations and Engineering, Sprouts Farmers Market, Kohl’s Westchester, and Jakks Pacific to the BBJ Employer Network!

 

9.      Began engaging more with our Jobs family through our blog (http://bestbuddiescalifornia.blogspot.com/), Facebook

10.  (https://www.facebook.com/BestBuddiesCalifornia), and Twitter (@BestBuddiesCA)

11.  Launched our inaugural Bowling for Buddies event for employer partners, employees  and participants to meet, socialize, and raise money for the Jobs program

12.  Partnered with a new agency, Harbor Regional Center, allowing Best Buddies Jobs to expand our reach to serve more individuals with IDD living in the Beach Cities area

 *After being hired by Entertainment Tonight, Oliver was interviewed for a special segment that aired around the world. He was also invited to attend Entertainment Tonight’s exclusive Emmy after party with his family.  

Oliver B. on the stage Entertainment Tonight with hosts Nancy O’Dell and Mark Steines