Best Buddies Empowers Individuals and Builds Friendships

Photo courtesy Best Buddies

Best Buddies International, founded in 1989, is a nonprofit that provides individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with a variety of tools—including one-to-one friendships—to help them thrive in their communities. Best Buddies is a global nonprofit serving hundreds of thousands of individuals. The Pennsylvania chapter, founded in 1994, serves around 8,000 individuals in 15 counties each year. Their reach is constantly growing as they expand into new schools and communities across the state with the help of their volunteers. North Hills Monthly spoke with Pittsburgh Development Director Fallon DeRiggi and State Director Samantha Civitate about the impact Best Buddies and its services have had on the community.

North Hills Monthly (NHM): What is the core mission of Best Buddies? What services do you provide for individuals with IDD?

Fallon DeRiggi and Samantha Civitate (DeRiggi and Civitate): Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to creating a global volunteer movement that fosters opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In Pennsylvania, Best Buddies currently offers the One-to-One Friendship Program through 162 school-based chapters and two community-based adult programs. Additionally, we offer leadership development opportunities through our Ambassador Program, which equips individuals with IDD to become public speakers and self-advocates, helping to further the message of inclusion across their communities.

Photo courtesy Best Buddies

NHM: How can individuals with IDD and their families access your services?

DeRiggi and Civitate: Families and individuals with IDD can access Best Buddies programs through our wide network of school-based chapters and community initiatives. We offer programs in many area schools that pair students with and without IDD in meaningful, lasting friendships. Our Citizens Program matches adults with IDD in one-to-one friendships with adult peers without disabilities, offering a valuable opportunity for connection beyond school settings. Additionally, our Ambassador Program provides individuals with IDD the chance to develop and share their voices through advocacy and public speaking. Interested families can visit the Best Buddies Pennsylvania website or contact our staff directly at pennsylvania@bestbuddies.org to get involved and find the best program fit.

NHM: What are some of the biggest challenges your organization faces in building inclusion for people with IDD?

DeRiggi and Civitate: One of the most significant challenges we face is creating inclusive employment pathways that are both sustainable and supported by the broader community. Many employers are still hesitant to hire individuals with IDD, often due to misconceptions or a lack of education about the capabilities and contributions these individuals can bring to the workforce. Additionally, even with our strong friendship and leadership programs, many people with IDD continue to experience social isolation in their everyday lives. Overcoming the broader societal stigma around disabilities and fostering truly inclusive communities remains a long-term challenge that we are actively working to address.

NHM: How do you train and support volunteers and peer buddies to foster lasting, meaningful relationships?

DeRiggi and Civitate: We place a strong emphasis on training to ensure that our chapter leaders, peer buddies, and volunteers are well-prepared to build inclusive and supportive relationships. Student leaders from our school-based chapters attend biannual training sessions at our local offices, where they receive guidance on leadership, event planning, and the logistics of running their chapter. Each July, a group of our students also attends the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference for a weekend of immersive training and community building. For general participants, we host peer buddy training sessions focused on friendship, diversity and inclusion, and establishing healthy boundaries. Prior to large events, all volunteers receive specialized training from our local staff to ensure they are comfortable and informed.

NHM: Can you share a specific success story from the Pittsburgh region that captures the spirit of Best Buddies?

DeRiggi and Civitate: A great example of the impact of Best Buddies in the Pittsburgh area is the story of Nikki Fenello. Nikki began her journey as a buddy in one of our school programs and quickly blossomed into a confident and passionate leader. She later joined our Ambassador Program and our Advisory Board, where she found her voice as a public speaker and advocate. Nikki now shares her story to inspire others and educate the community about the importance of inclusion. Her journey beautifully captures the mission of Best Buddies—transforming lives through friendship, empowerment, and opportunity. You can read more about Nikki’s story on our website.

NHM: What opportunities exist for local individuals, schools, or businesses to get involved or support your mission?

DeRiggi and Civitate: There are many ways for community members to get involved with Best Buddies in Pennsylvania. Schools can start their own chapters to bring the Friendship Program to their students, where individuals can participate as peer buddies, volunteers, or in a leadership role. Our two signature events—The Friendship Walk in April and TasteBuds in December—offer excellent opportunities to support our mission through participation, sponsorship, or volunteering. Businesses can also support us through corporate partnerships, sponsorships, or by hosting mini-fundraisers that benefit Best Buddies. We are always looking for passionate community members to help us grow and sustain our mission of inclusion!

NHM: How did the concept of your annual fundraising event, TasteBuds, originate, and what inspired its unique pairing of chefs with individuals with IDD?

DeRiggi and Civitate: TasteBuds is a one-of-a-kind event that originated right here in Pittsburgh. The event brings together some of the city’s most talented chefs, who are each paired with an individual with IDD from one of our programs to serve as their sous-chef for the evening. Together, they create and present signature dishes to attendees, offering a powerful, hands-on demonstration of inclusion in action. TasteBuds not only showcases the culinary talent in our community but also celebrates the friendships and capabilities of our participants. The event also features our “Champion of the Year” campaign—a philanthropic competition that unites local leaders in support of our programs and mission.

Photo courtesy Best Buddies

NHM: How do funds raised from TasteBuds contribute to Best Buddies’ programs and initiatives here in Pittsburgh?

DeRiggi and Civitate: Funds raised during TasteBuds go directly back into our programs here in the Pittsburgh region. This includes expanding and maintaining school-based friendship chapters, supporting adult Citizens Programs, training our ambassadors, and facilitating ongoing volunteer and peer buddy development. These funds are essential to our ability to reach more individuals, offer high-quality programming, and build a more inclusive community across western Pennsylvania—and the entire state.

NHM: What are the biggest challenges your organization faces?

DeRiggi and Civitate: In addition to the barriers around inclusive employment and persistent social stigma, one of our biggest organizational challenges is securing sustainable funding to grow our programs and meet the demand for services. Recruiting and retaining volunteers, especially in rural or underserved communities, can also be difficult. Transportation and accessibility continue to pose challenges for some of our participants. Despite these obstacles, we remain committed to finding creative, community-driven solutions to ensure that everyone has access to friendship, leadership, and opportunity.

NHM: Looking ahead, what are your goals or visions for the future of Best Buddies Pittsburgh in the next five years?

DeRiggi and Civitate: Our vision for the future of Best Buddies in Pittsburgh includes expanding our reach into more schools and communities while also maintaining the quality of our programs. Our goal is to ensure that every individual with IDD has access to meaningful friendships and leadership opportunities. Strengthening partnerships with local businesses and community organizations is another key goal, as these relationships are vital to sustaining our growth. Ultimately, we aim to build a more inclusive Pittsburgh—and Pennsylvania!