HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

First 'Buddy-rama' Draws 200

The Harvard chapter of Best Buddies hosted seven other chapters from around Massachusetts for the first-ever "Buddy-rama" earlier this month.

The mission of Harvard-Radcliffe Best Buddies, an affiliate of the Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA), is to enhance the lives of persons with developmental disabilities by forming one-on-one friendships and providing opportunities for socialization. The goal of the "Buddy-rama" was to celebrate this mission of friendship, as well as to strengthen Buddy relationships, expand Buddies' social worlds, and build bridges among different chapters.

More than 200 people - "Buddies" and volunteers alike - spent an afternoon at the Science Center and Loker Commons participating in a talent show and a Dance-a-thon (which raised money for individual chapters), singing along with the Harvard Opportunes, making arts and crafts, painting each other's faces, and enjoying pizza and ice cream sundaes.

Best Buddies is one of the fastest growing programs in the PBHA. At the beginning of the last academic year, 10 members were paired with Buddies in one special-education classroom at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. A little more than a year later, Best Buddies has formed nearly 50 friendships, serving adults and kids alike in four special-education classrooms and a group home.

"We hope that the success of this year's event means that the 'Buddy-rama' can become an annual event that our Buddies will always be able to look forward to," said Brian T. Chan '00, who along with Bryan W. Leach '00, directs the Harvard chapter. "The 'Buddy-rama' will be a special day just for them, a powerful reminder of how many great people there are with whom they can share an ice cream sundae, create an art masterpiece, or simply have a meaningful conversation."