A member of the Kennedy clan is making a pitch for state money to support an organization which helps the intellectually-disabled find a friend of life. “Best Buddies” founder Anthony Kennedy Shriver says a true friend can help an intellectually-disabled person build self-esteem.Shriver says a “best friend” helps during the rocky times and when big decisions have to be made. Shriver says too often, a disabled person is around just family and people who are paid to care for them. Shriver says it’s a “totally different vibe” because the disabled know folks are not there out of love but because of family obligation or because they’re getting a paycheck. “Best Buddies” already has chapters in seven Iowa high schools and on 10 Iowa college campuses. Shriver met with legislators and the Lieutenant Governor to ask for 370-thousand dollars from the state to support building new chapters in Iowa and start the “Best Buddies” business mentoring program.Shriver started “Best Buddies” in 1989 when he was a student at Georgetown University. (Here’s the list of “Best Buddies” Iowa high school chapters: Des Moines, Indianola, Johnston, Sioux City, Urbandale, Waukee, and West Des Moines. “Best Buddies” has college chapters at Iowa State University, the Universty of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa, Drake, Mt. Mercy, Grinnell, Grand View, Hamilton and Central.)
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