On May 9th, the Munster High School Chapter of Best Buddies hosted the 5th Annual Northwest Indiana Friendship Walk. Best Buddies is a student-run friendship club that fosters friendships between students with and without intellectual disabilities. Its mission is to provide meaningful and long-lasting friendships for all students. There are Best Buddies Chapters in high schools, middle schools and colleges throughout Indiana, the United States and the world. The Friendship Walk is an annual event that helps raise awareness of Best Buddies, its mission and also is used to raise funds so that Best Buddies Indiana can continue to help promote their ideals all over the state.
An atmosphere of fun and friendship permeated Munster High School as the Friendship Walk was moved inside because of inclement weather. Nearly 250 people participated and close to $14,000 was raised, making the 2015 Northwest Indiana Friendship Walk one of the most successful in recent years. Music, Dante’s pizza and games were provided for all who were in attendance. Members of the Munster and Crown Point High School Art Clubs provided face painting. At the end of the celebration, four Munster High School teachers had pie thrown in their faces. This was part of a weeklong fundraiser for the Walk by Munster’s Best Buddies chapter. During lunches, students and staff voted by making donations for the teacher they wanted to see get a pie in the face at the Walk. The top vote getters were the lucky recipients of a pie in the face.
Besides Munster’s chapter, the members and families of Best Buddies chapters from Wilbur Wright Middle School, Lake Central High School and Crown Point High School were in attendance. There was a large group from Griffith High School, where a Best Buddies chapter is set to open next school year. One of the major goals of this year’s Friendship Walk was to get the community involved. We were able to accomplish this both within the school community and from local organizations and businesses. Members of multiple Munster High School clubs and sports teams came out and volunteered at the Walk. Indiana Professional Management Group (IPMG), which provides person-centered case management services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Susan’s School of Dance and Planting Possibilities, a local organization whose mission is to provide job-skills training and employment for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, were part of the festivities as well.
