Grateful to these incredible National Football League (NFL) athletes for choosing Best Buddies as their cause during this year’s #MyCauseMyCleats initiative. 💙👟 Your support helps shine a spotlight on friendship, inclusion, and opportunities for people with IDD — on and off the field. Thank you for representing our mission with pride! #BestBuddies #NFL
Best Buddies International
Non-profit Organization Management
Miami, FL 31,315 followers
Creating opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
About us
Best Buddies International 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, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The IDD community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and other undiagnosed disabilities. Best Buddies is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower the special abilities of people with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society.
- Website
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http://www.bestbuddies.org
External link for Best Buddies International
- Industry
- Non-profit Organization Management
- Company size
- 201-500 employees
- Headquarters
- Miami, FL
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 1989
- Specialties
- social inclusion, intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, integrated employment, and leadership development
Locations
Employees at Best Buddies International
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Lisa Derx
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Linda Kordek-Milton
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Kathy DiRusso (she/her) CPWIC
Passionate Includer and Director of Jobs Operations, supporting staff in 22 states & 39 locations offering supported employment for people who…
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Jessica Schwartz
Innovative Marketing Director | Elevating Brand Awareness and Visibility through Strategic Partnerships | Building Campaigns that Enhance Community…
Updates
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Gratitude lives in the everyday moments, the bond between a mother and daughter, the growth they share, and the wisdom that comes from their journey together. 💙 Through Eunie’s Buddies, families like theirs find support, connection, and community. This Thanksgiving, we invite you to reflect: what are you grateful for? #EuniesBuddies #BestBuddies #Gratitude
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This week we celebrate the friendships, support, and compassion that make our community so special. 💛 Happy Thanksgiving to our amazing Best Buddies family — thank you for helping build a more inclusive world. #Thankful #BestBuddies
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The Countdown is on, the #StateShowdown starts in 1 WEEK! This #GivingTuesday, we’re rallying every state to spread friendship, belonging, and big-time impact. And thanks to our friends at Jersey Mike’s, every gift you make will be matched to help create more inclusion nationwide! 🙌💙 Let’s show the country what belonging looks like. Ready to rep your state? 🗺️ Visit: https://lnkd.in/erKwxGCU #BestBuddies
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What a day for inclusion. 🚴♂️ From a world-class bike ride at the #BestBuddiesChallenge: Miami to an unforgettable evening at our Miami Gala, Saturday was nothing short of inspiring. Together, our riders, supporters, participants, and friends helped raise $5 million to create more opportunities for friendship, jobs, leadership, and inclusive living for people with IDD. Miami, you showed up — and we’re just getting started. 💛 WhyWeRide #BestBuddiesGala2025
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Some people lift up everyone around them — and Aidan is one of those people. 💛 Since joining Best Buddies, he’s built friendships that have turned into daily joy, stepped into leadership roles that inspired others, and embraced every opportunity to grow, connect, and shine. Whether he’s at BBLC, supporting his buddy Sam, or serving his community, Aidan shows us the true power of friendship and inclusion. We’re grateful to have him in the Best Buddies family!
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You rode. You fundraised. You changed lives. Because of you, friendship and opportunity are possible for so many. 💛🚴♀️ #WhyWeRide
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Celebrating 27 years of impact, connection, and the unstoppable spirit of the Best Buddies community. #BestBuddiesMiamiGala2025
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Cheers to impact, cheers to community, cheers to 27 years of Best Buddies Miami Gala magic! 🥂 #bestbuddies #bestbuddiesgala2025