Best Buddies Albany Announces 2015 Friendship Walk Committee

Annual Albany Friendship Walk Set For April 19 at Crossgates Mall

ALBANY –Best Buddies of the Capital Region announced today the formation of its Friendship Walk committee. The committee will organize, support and bring awareness to the annual Best Buddies Friendship Walk to be held at Crossgates Mall on April 19in 2015. Peter Gannon, has been an active member of several community organizations such as the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society and Albany Pop Warner and was selected to serve as the committee’s chair. Gannon currently serves as President of the Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership and works as a member of the adjunct faculty at Schenectady County Community College.

“I was recently introduced to Best Buddies and was astonished by the impact this organization has on so many lives,“ said walk committee chair Peter Gannon. “This committee is going to create a positive, inclusive and welcoming atmosphere for the upcoming walk. We encourage people to educate others and spread the word about Best Buddies. This event presents the opportunity of friendship to everyone who participates and helps this organization continue its amazing work.”

The Friendship Walk is the latest and greatest life-changing movement created by Best Buddies. Since 2009, more than 55,000 participants have walked in over 26 states and 3 countries, raising over 5 million dollars for Best Buddies. Ultimately, the Friendship Walk changes lives, as participants walk for inclusion, friendship, leadership, and opportunities for people with and without Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).

“Best Buddies walks have made a profound impact in our communities here in the Capital Region, especially for individuals with IDD,” said Area Director Nicole Burch, Capital Region Best Buddies. “Our local chapters have grown because of this annual walk and community support. It is a wonderful event where you can make new friends while making a difference in your community.”

Proceeds from the walk play a fundamental role in funding Best Buddies programs, which provide one-to-one friendships and leadership development opportunities for individuals with and without IDD. These programs can be found in 29 middle schools, high schools and colleges throughout upstate New York and will create promising opportunities for over 1,300 people this year.

2015 Walk Committee

Peter Gannon, Chair
Chris Anderson, Vice Chair
Matt Cannon, Income and Development Chair
Meghan Williams, Logistics Chair

Caitlin Garrity, Mission Chair
Mike Bohne, Publicity Chair

Kathleen DiSpirito, Team Development Chair

Aimee McGinniss, Team Development Chair
Kelly Obermayer, Team Development Chair

The public is encouraged to attend this event, which takes place at Crossgates Mall onApril 19, 2015 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. You can register and get more information about the walk at: http://www.bestbuddiesnewyork.org/albanywalk

ABOUT BEST BUDDIES

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. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,700 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies’ eight formal programs — Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies® , Jobs, Ambassadors, and Promoters — engage participants in each of the 50 states and in over 50 countries, positively impacting the lives of more than 800,000 people with and without disabilities around the world. In many cases, as a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships.