[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 22656]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              BEST BUDDIES

 Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the Best 
Buddies Chapter from Walter Johnson High School in Montgomery County, 
MD, for being named ``Chapter of the Year'' by Best Buddies 
International. Best Buddies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization 
dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual 
disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and 
integrated employment. Founded by Anthony K. Shriver in 1989, Best 
Buddies focuses on the importance of social integration for a group 
that is often overlooked by society. They achieve their mission by 
creating ``buddy pairs'' in student-run chapters at middle schools, 
high schools, and colleges around the world.
  Every year, Best Buddies holds its international leadership 
conference at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, where over 1,300 
high school and college students are trained on how to run an effective 
Best Buddies chapter--skills that will serve them well throughout their 
academic and professional lives. During the conference the organization 
acknowledges certain chapters that have achieved a particular level of 
excellence throughout the past year. The Chapter of the Year is 
selected by the board of directors and is based on the quality of the 
one-to-one friendships, chapter leadership, and activities. For 2007, 
75 chapters applied, and Walter Johnson High School was awarded this 
impressive distinction.
  This chapter exemplified the true meaning of team work. As a team 
they worked together and planned incredibly successful events, 
fundraisers, and group outings. Their great sense of spirit and 
enthusiasm showed in every activity they undertook and in the deeply 
rewarding friendships they created. Through the tireless outreach of 
the chapter members, the general student population at Walter Johnson 
learned first hand that the similarities between children with and 
without intellectual disabilities far outweigh the differences.
  I hope that you will join me in recognizing the importance of what 
these high school students are doing through their participation in the 
Best Buddies program and the excellence with which they do it.

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