George C. Marshall High School Honored as an Outstanding Chapter at Best Buddies International 20th Annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference

by BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL

George C. Marshall High School receiving award

MIAMI, FL July 27, 2009 The Best Buddies chapter at George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church, Virginia was presented with the 2008 Outstanding Chapter Award at Best Buddies Internationals 20th Annual Student Leadership Conference, July 24-27, 2009. Chosen from more than 800 Best Buddies high school programs and 80 Outstanding Chapter applicants, George C. Marshall High School was chosen as first Runner-Up for Overall Outstanding Chapter for its dedication to the Best Buddies mission.

Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Leadership Conference prepares student leaders to operate the Best Buddies chapters at their schools, which involves recruitment of new members, planning group activities for their chapters and promoting of the social integration of people with intellectual disabilities in their communities.

Nearly 800 students, representing Colombia, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Spain, and the United States, traveled to Indiana University to participate in the four-day conference. Working under the theme of We are Best Buddies, these students, selected for their active leadership roles within Best Buddies, attended a series of interactive workshops focusing on leadership development, community service, civic responsibility, intellectual disabilities and volunteerism. For the first time in Best Buddies history, portions of this years Leadership Conference was streamed live online.

Best Buddies International celebrates the efforts of our exceptional high school and college chapters, which have developed incredible one-to-one friendships and strengthen the Best Buddies mission in their schools, said Mia Mulholland, Director of Programs for Best Buddies. Each chapters creativity, dedication and hard work play an important role in furthering the social inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities within their communities and around the world.

About Best Buddies International

Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,400 middle school, high school, and college campuses worldwide. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States. We have accredited programs in 44 countries, with additional ones under active development. Our six formal programs Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies and Jobs positively impact more than 400,000 individuals with and without intellectual disabilities annually. As a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org.

Media Inquiries:

Heather Schatz
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Jennifer Grau
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