Best Buddies
York Community High School- Elmhurst, IL
What is Best Buddies?
The Best Buddies Friendship program builds one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), offering social mentoring while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion for a population that is often isolated and excluded. Through your participation, people with IDD form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences and activities that many other individuals enjoy!

From our YHS chapter members
Some of our members shared testimonials about the friendships they have made through Best Buddies! Enjoy viewing some examples of the fun events we host each month!
From our national Organization
Want to know more about how Best Buddies works? Take a look at this video. Then, head to the resources page for additional details on leadership opportunities!
More About our Chapter
This will be our sixth year at York!
We won rookie chapter of the year during the 2017-2018 school year.
During the 2019-2020 school year, our chapter president (Maddy) and her buddy (Hope) won Best Buddies Illinois Buddy Pair of the year!
We raised a total of $5,176 for the Friendship Walks over the last 3 years.
2023-2024 Membership Update
We are planning on hosting in-person events this year in large, safe spaces. It is important to our chapter that our events make all members feel safe, welcome, and valued.
Attention future Dukes or prospective new members! If you are interested in joining this year, please answer the questions in this Google Form. We will email you information in mid to late August.
Current or prospective members: Please send an email to Ms. Dowling and Ms. Ausnehmer or a board member if you have any questions!
21-22 York Best Buddies Chapter