Pictured from left to right are: Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Chapter President LeAnn Bracke, Sen. Costa, and 'Buddy' Leon Sloan.


Sen. Costa speaks with Anthony Kennedy Shriver.


Sen. Costa and Anthony Kennedy Shriver pose with students and staff involved with the Penn Hills Chapter of Best Buddies.


Leon Sloan presents Sen. Costa with the "Champion of Friendship" award.


 

Best Buddies Founder and Chairman Anthony Kennedy Shriver Visits Penn Hills High School to Honor Senator Jay Costa

Pittsburgh, PA – (May 12, 2010) -- Best Buddies International Founder and Chairman Anthony Kennedy Shriver visited the Penn Hills High School Best Buddies Chapter.

Mr. Shriver and a Buddy Pair from the Penn Hills High School Best Buddies Chapter presented Sen. Costa with the “Champion of Friendship Award.”

The award recognizes Sen. Costa’s tireless efforts to support Best Buddies message of inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Following the award presentation, the Penn Hills Best Buddies Chapter recognized its graduating seniors with a dance and reception.

“I am delighted to be visiting Western Pennsylvania and Penn Hills to honor Senator Costa for his support of Best Buddies Pennsylvania programs and the 18,000 people positively impacted by our efforts here. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities have a true friend and champion in Senator Costa,” said Mr. Shriver.

“As Senator I have always been a strong advocate for people with disabilities. Best Buddies is an organization that works everyday in schools like Penn Hills High School to make a difference in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and I am honored to support Best Buddies mission and their important role in our community,” Senator Costa said.

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 (IDD).

Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide.

Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States, as well as 46 countries, with additional ones under development. Best Buddies six formal programs – Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies and Jobs – positively impact more than 700,000 individuals with and without IDDs annually.

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 the Best Buddies web site.