We Are Best Buddies: Join Our Global Movement!

MIAMI, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Best Buddies International, a groundbreaking nonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is pleased to announce a new 50-week social media campaign called "We are Best Buddies: Join Our Global Movement!"

Best Buddies will launch this campaign, which celebrates the victories it's achieved in each of the countries it has a presence in, today. Each week, a story and photo gallery will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, and the Best Buddies blog highlighting the accomplishments of a different Best Buddies country. The campaign will kick off with the United States (followed by Canada, the Philippines, and Egypt), and include a personal story from Best Buddies founder and chairman, Anthony K. Shriver. These weekly stories will feature behind-the-scenes views of program launches, changes in country laws, community views and activities, all through the eyes of the passionate people who brought the Best Buddies movement to their respective countries.

As part of the campaign, Best Buddies will also be holding weekly contests. Participants will be asked to share their personal Best Buddies stories, photos, videos and pictures that relate to a weekly theme, which will be announced every Tuesday. Contest winners' entries will be shared every Friday, and each winner will receive a limited edition weekly prize, including a kick-off prize of an all-expenses paid trip to Miami, Florida and lunch with Anthony K. Shriver.

"The simple idea of friendship has become a global movement, mostly because of friends all over the world deciding that they want to join the team and do something fantastic for themselves and their community," says Anthony K. Shriver. "I hope everyone will join the Best Buddies movement for no other reason than to make a friend who will change your life from now until the day you die!"

Join our global movement today! Sign up by becoming a fan of our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bestbuddies, check out our blog at blog.bestbuddies.org, and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bestbuddiesintl.

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 (IDDs). Founded in 1989, Best Buddies has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,500 chapters worldwide. Our six formal programs - Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies and Jobs - currently engage participants in each of the 50 United States and in 46 countries (with additional ones under development), positively impacting more than 700,000 individuals with and without IDDs. As a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with IDDs secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org.

SOURCE Best Buddies International