This year's URI-Perspectives' Best Buddies' Chapter is up and running, having had our first event October 22. It was well attended AND well represented by programs within Perspectives. There are 27 PWS involved, coming from 15 different programs. We all get together once a month for our group event at URI. The college buddies contact their buddies (our PWS) on the other weeks during the month, maybe a phone call, go out for coffee, or a home visit; whatever they decide works best for them.

The buddies are matched based on common interests, likes or dislikes; and are paired for the entire academic year. I have seen some buddy pairs who have been together for four years !!!!! This is a program entirely about FRIENDSHIP. My college buddies get nothing but friendship, the experience of a special friendship with our people a one to one friendship.

And our guys get a special person in their life who WANTS to be with them, share time freely with them and be their friend in the true sense of a friendship. It works, it's wonderful, AND I get to be the Host Site Coordinator for this program! But, like I have said in the past, don't ask me (I am biased), ask one of the Perspectives Buddies......from Langworthy, Riverside, Cosmo, Tower, Mockingbird, Westerly Group Home, ADS, Heritage, Davisville, Hillsdale, Kings Factory Road, Crestwood, Pond House, Fiore, Westerly Apartment Program.......................

In Friendship,

Gretchen Tingley

Host site Coordinator

URI-Perspectives Chapter Best Buddies