Best Buddies is putting on a fundraiser at Chipotle Nov. 19 to help pay dues to remain a chapter with Best Buddies International.
Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501 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 (IDD).
ACU Best Buddies became a student organization last year in October. However, it didn’t become an official chapter of Best Buddies until this year in February.
Grace Carriger, sophomore animal health professions major from Plano and ACU’s Best Buddies founder and president, said one of her goals was to help educate students to help those with disabilities.
“My goal when I founded ACU Best Buddies during my freshman year was to help educate those without disabilities on all things disabilities and to advocate for those with disabilities,” Carriger said. “Also, my goal was to help people with disabilities at group homes to help form and foster a friendship that will last a lifetime.”
Carriger said that because Best Buddies is a nonprofit, they need people to get involved to help pay dues.
“People can get involved by joining as a peer buddy, which is a person matched to a buddy or an associate,” she said. “An associate is just a member who goes to the events and meetings.”
Emily Padgett, senior bible and ministry major from Terre Haute, Ind., and fundraiser director, said that there are other ways to help Best Buddies.
“My role is organizing and setting up the fundraiser with Chipotle,” Padgett said. “If you want to donate and cannot make it, you can donate at $ACUBestbuddies.”
Chipotle is located at 3800 South Clark St. The fundraiser will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
