Best Buddies is an international nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“It basically enriches both of the participants’ lives,” said Michael Derr, new president of Miami’s chapter.
The Miami chapter pairs a college student with a person from the area, and the pairs spend time together and participate in group outings, like bowling or last year’s trip to a Cincinnati Reds game.
Miami has a strong chapter, Derr said, with more than 100 college students and people with intellectual disabilities from Oxford, Hamilton, Fairfield and the area.
Derr, a junior at Miami, said he and his buddy have been getting together for two years, since Derr first learned of the program online.
“It gives me a greater purpose at Miami,” he said. “It’s easy to get caught up in all the academics, the Greek life and you don’t feel really fulfilled.
This is something that brings me a lot of joy,” he said. “My buddy and I have become very close friends. He looks forward to hanging out with me and I know I feel the same way.”
Anyone interested in the group can contact Derr at derrmc@muohio.edu, search for Miami’s chapter through muohio.edu or visit www.bestbuddies.org.
About the Author