OAF Grants in Action – Spotlight on Best Buddies Club
by Rebecca Seymour
March is Best Buddies Month in Wisconsin! Founded 36 years ago by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for people of all abilities to have meaningful connections and friendships with one another.
There are 80 Oconomowoc students participating in the Best Buddies Clubs at Greenland, Park Lawn and Summit Elementary Schools, and Oconomowoc High School. The groups offer opportunities for young people with and without special needs to get together for fun activities that foster understanding, acceptance and friendships.
Sylvia Staus was a member of the Best Buddies Club when she was a student at OHS.
“Best Buddies gives kids a voice and it shows people that everyone matters, no matter who you are. Everyone is included. It’s a safe place and a judge-free zone,” she said.
Over the years, the Oconomowoc Area Foundation has been supporting the Best Buddies Clubs in the Oconomowoc Area School District. Through generous donations, the OAF has had the opportunity to award annual grants that help fund training for Best Buddies Club advisors and student ambassadors, as well as special events and activities.
“Best Buddies is so wonderful because it truly encourages acceptance and empathy through friendships. We’re always trying to grow our programs, and the continued support and relationship we’ve had over the years with the Oconomowoc Area Foundation is so important,” said Megan Messmer, program manager for Best Buddies in Wisconsin.
Lesley Kountz is an Occupational Therapy Practitioner at Park Lawn Elementary in Oconomowoc and has also been an advisor for the school’s Best Buddies Club for the past three years. The club currently has 32 third and fourth grade students that meet every month for fun activities, outings and even service projects.
“We tell our students to not judge a book by it’s cover. You don’t always know what a person might be going through on the inside. Best Buddies fosters meaningful connections, kindness and respect for one another. We all have differences, but we are more alike than different,” she explained. “We can see the difference that it makes on our playground and in the classroom because of the friendships being made through Best Buddies.”
For more info, visit www.bestbuddies.org/wisconsin.
Best Buddies Friendship Walk
The Best Buddies Friendship Walk fundraiser will take place Saturday, May 3 at Wisconsin Brewing Company Park, home of the Lake Country DockHounds, located at 1011 Blue Ribbon Circle N, in Oconomowoc.
Check-in begins at 9 a.m. with opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. Festivities will take place until noon. There will be food, face painting, games, and a Kids Zone with bouncy house and giant slide.
The event is free to attend, but please register at bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/wisconsin. If you are interested in volunteering, email wisconsin@bestbuddies.org.
