Letter From Our State Director
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Dear Friends,
Many thanks to all of those who joined us for the Friendship Walk on Saturday, May 1 at the University of Maryland, College Park. The event was a tremendous success as 325 walkers raised more than $55,500. That is a remarkable 340 percent increase over last year. Even more impressive is that the event revenue to expense ratio was 94 percent. Simply put, that means 94 cents of every dollar raised goes directly toward our mission and only 6 percent went toward putting on this event.
We could not have achieved this remarkable feat without the many sponsors, vendors and committee members who donated their time, monies and services to our cause. While there is not room enough to recognize each of these people individually, I would like highlight the efforts of our committee, which did an extrodinary job making this project so successful: Best Buddies Advisory Board Members Terri Klatzkin of Clark Enterprises and Victoria Oldak of Blue Entertainment Sports Television; Citizens Volunteer Sri Rapaka; and Shannon Hofher, Kyle Rauser, Aileen O’Hara and Karin Dolan. Your spirit and simple acts of kindness will not soon be forgotten. I would also like to thank the students of the Best Buddies Chapter of the University of Maryland for their efforts in making the annual Friendship Games after the walk a fun and motivating day for our participants.
The Friendship Walk is one of the many new fundraising initiatives that Best Buddies Maryland has recently introduced. Here are some other fun ways you can join us to raise money across the state.
The Southern Maryland Friendship Walk on Oct. 2 at North Beach in Calvert County.
The Best Buddies Fitness Challenge on Oct. 16 at the Baltimore Running Festival in Baltimore City.
Life is Sweet on Nov. 9 at Silo Point in Baltimore City.
More information on these highly anticipated events can be found in the remainder of the e-newsletter as well as on our website.
There are so many great things happening at Best Buddies Maryland and I have yet to mention the incredible work our staff, advisors, Chapter Presidents, Buddy Directors and all our Citizens Participants has done in the classroom and around the state. They continue to make our Best Buddies programs the finest in the nation. This spring, I have had numerous opportunities to visit galas and schools and see first-hand the life changing bonds of friendship that have been established.
Best Buddies Maryland has simple goals: to continue to provide the best programs and create one-to-one friendship, leadership development and integrated employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Maryland. To do this, we need your help. We are grateful for all of the individuals who have joined us in our mission thus far in 2010. We always need and welcome more. Perhaps you can help? Please consider joining our event committees or Advisory Board. To sustain our programs, much less grow them, takes investment and capital.
Together, we can shape the future of Best Buddies Maryland. Everyone can contribute in some way and we truly can change the world.
Take care and feel free to drop me a note at vincefiduccia@bestbuddies.org.
In Friendship,
Vince Fiduccia State Director |
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