Best Buddies Receives $4,000 Donation at New York Fashion Week
New York City, NY, Feb. 13, 2024 — Best Buddies International, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), received a $4,000 donation from Supermodels Unlimited Magazine and Miss USA at a New York Fashion Week event on Feb. 10.
“Funding always supports what we’re doing,” Sophie Dubuisson, the state director of Best Buddies in New York, said. “It allows us to keep moving our mission forward. We can open more school chapters, we can find more jobs for people with disabilities [and] we can help people make more friends, so it makes a huge impact.”
The themes of the fashion show were diversity and inclusion, with models of all shapes and sizes showcasing the newest styles to hit New York City. Four Best Buddies participants attended the fashion show, where they also listened to a performance by rapper King Kombs. At the end of the event, the participants were invited on stage to receive the donation, which will be used to support and expand Best Buddies programs.
“I had so much fun; it was awesome to see the fashion show with pageant contestants,” Terence Moore, a State Ambassador for New York and a member of the Young Leaders Council, said. “I also really enjoyed seeing King Combs perform. I’m thankful that Miss USA and Supermodels Unlimited Magazine support this wonderful non-profit that has transformed my life for the better.”
To watch a recap of the event, click here. To get involved with Best Buddies in New York, click here.
About Best Buddies Media Inquiries
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, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 3,000 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies’ 12 formal programs — Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies®, Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters, Transitions, Inclusive Living and Eunie’s Buddies— engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 45 countries, positively impacting the lives of nearly one million 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. For more information, please visit bestbuddies.org or connect with us via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Best Buddies International
Nicole Maddox
Vice President, Communications
NicoleMaddox@Bestbuddies.org