Program - June 6, 2017  Blake Campbell - Director, Iowa Best Buddies

Iowa Best Buddies Staff Director Blake Campbell told us:

Going into 2014, our emphasis and primary goal was expansion in both strategic areas of programs and staff while maintaining sound financial growth. Throughout the year we celebrated many successes:

• The largest Best Buddies Friendship Walk in the history of the state
• Three regional Friendship Balls
• Addition of one new staff member
• Opening of the states first Middle School Friendship chapter
• Opening of our second Corporate Citizen chapter, thanks to generous support from Sammons Financial Group
• High BBIA representation at the Best Buddies Leadership Conference
• and a record-breaking Chef Challenge in October

Additionally, our staff worked to host several trainings and networking opportunities for our student leaders with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). They laid the groundwork to open several new chapters in 2015, all while continuing to provide support to all of our growing friendships.

In 2015 we will continue to expand into new schools, continuing our focus on middle schools. We will open new Corporate Citizen chapters and continue to build capacity of the state office through successful state events.