Best Buddies International, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is excited to announce the Best Buddies Friendship Walk: Concord on May 9th at the State House in Concord.
“People with IDD face enormous barriers every day, including social and economic isolation and discrimination. Right here in New Hampshire, an unquantifiable number of people with IDD do not experience the joys that genuine friendships, gainful employment and inclusive living that people without disabilities do. Best Buddies is on a mission to break down those barriers and build a more inclusive world for people with IDD, starting with community,” said Sarra Dennehy, the State Director of Best Buddies in New Hampshire.
Best Buddies in New Hampshire is proud to have 700 (and counting) participants lacing up their shoes to walk for inclusion, all working to surpass 2026’s fundraising goal of $150,000. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the walk commences at 10:15 a.m. at the New Hampshire State House on N. Main Street in Concord.
Following the Friendship Walk, please join Best Buddies for a day of fun, family, wellness and friendship. The day will be filled with dancing and music from DJ Nazzy, delicious food, ice cream from Subzero and face painting. It will be an exciting event for children and adults with and without IDD. Walk participants will also be joined by local Miss New Hampshire America crownholders and Best Buddies Global Ambassador Kiontis Gallion from Wisconsin.
Proceeds from the Friendship Walk support state programs that provide one-to-one friendships and leadership development for individuals with and without disabilities.
Walk for inclusion. Walk for friendship. Walk for a better New Hampshire.
This year’s Best Buddies Friendship Walk in New Hampshire sponsors and corporate partners include: New York Life Foundation, CoreMedical Group, Community Bridges, and many more generous companies.
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 over 4,000 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies’ programs engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 41 countries, positively impacting the lives of more than 1.5 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 www.bestbuddies.org, facebook.com/bestbuddies or instagram.com/bestbuddies.