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What word would you use to describe Friendship Circle? LOVE WELCOMING EXCEPTIONAL Elana Levitan* Hannah Morris,* President Noah Cape Seattle Academy, 11th Grade Seattle Academy, 11th Grade The Bush School, 10th Grade INCREDIBLE INSPIRING REWARDING Drew Cohen Clare Spiegel Micah Gonchar Issaquah HS, 10th Grade Issaquah HS, 11th Grade Seattle Academy, 11th Grade COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION AMAZING HEARTFELT Mackenzie Martinez* Ali Dickstein* Sam Castellanos Hannah Wahl The Center School, 12th Grade Mercer Island HS, 11th Grade Mercer Island HS, 11th Grade Roosevelt HS, 11th Grade Ballard High • Bellevue College • Bellevue High School • Bush School Cascade Parent Partnership • Eastlake High School • Eckstein Middle School French American School • Hamilton International Middle School • Inglemoor High School • Ingraham High School • Interlake High School • Islander Middle School • Issaquah High School • Issaquah Middle School • Jewish Day School Juanita High School • Lake Washington High School • Liberty High School Mercer Island High School • MMSC Day School • Nathan Hale High School Newport High School • NYHS • North Seattle Community College • Open Window School • Overlake School • Pine Lake Middle School • Redmond High School • Redmond Middle School • Roosevelt High School • Seattle Academy of the Arts & Sciences • Seattle Girls’ School • SHA • The Center School University Prep • University of Washington • Woodinville High School *denotes Executive Board FRIENDS@HOME Friends @ Home gives children with special needs the chance to bond with teen volunteers in their own home. Volunteers and children get together regularly to play games, read, bake cookies or just have fun. Having a friend over to play—an activity taken for granted by most children—creates feelings of belonging and self-worth in a child with special needs. SUNDAY CIRCLE SUN Sunday Circle enables children with special needs to come together in a supportive environment for positive social interactions while receiving one on one attention from a teen volunteer. Participants are paired up with a buddy and enjoy activities such as art, music and Kung Fu. The children develop important life skills while moms and dads get a much needed respite. The experience also transforms our teen volunteers into advocates as they develop the values, sensitivity and skills to become tomorrow’s leaders. BIRTHDAY CLUB Children with special needs are often excluded from birthday parties and miss out on opportunities to socialize. The Friendship Circle brings kids together to eat cake, celebrate, and see their friends. The agency hosts bi-monthly birthday and holiday celebrations for children with special needs and their families. LEADERSHIP BOARD Several outstanding Friendship Circle teen volunteers are chosen to be on the Leadership Board each year. As members, they commit to weekly volunteering and participate in special projects related to community organizing and fundraising. The teens help recruit new volunteers and gain valuable leadership, communication and job skills. SUMMER CAMP Summer Camp provides a chance for children to participate in fun and educational activities that build social, emotional and physical skills in a supportive environment. The sense of inclusion, importance, and participation in a loving community of peers is a unique opportunity for participants. SIB CIRCLE Sib Circle provides a safe space where siblings of children with special needs can discuss their feelings and receive support and attention. Each workshop is designed to encourage discussion and communication. Sib Circle also enables children with similar experiences to form friendships of their own. TEEN SCENE Teen Scene bridges the gap between typical teens and teens with special needs by enabling them to enjoy fun and meaningful experiences together. Teen Scene helps participants develop life skills such as banking, grocery shopping, or applying for jobs. MOM’S NIGHT OUT Mom’s Night Out gives mothers an opportunity to support each other while enjoying an activity such as yoga, painting or spa night. This support group of women is a much needed moment of respite and is imperative to maintaining positive mental health while raising a child with special needs. TEEN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS General hands-on sensitivity training for teens on a range of topics. MVP - MITZVAH VOLUNTEER PROGRAM The Friendship Circle Mitzvah Volunteer Program (MVP) engages 12 and 13 year olds in volunteerism and community involvement in a hands-on way. Volunteering with the Friendship Circle is a serious, year- long commitment, one that younger teens are often not ready to make. The MVP program enables these youth to be positively involved in their community, but requires less of a commitment. MVP youth receive sensitivity and general volunteer training, preparing them to become active community members & FC volunteers. COOKING CIRCLE Cooking Circle integrates essential life skills training with the social interaction unique to The Friendship Circle. The activity provides an innovative way for teens with special needs to learn about nutrition. With the support of their teen volunteer buddies and the guidance of trained nutrition professionals, Cooking Circle participants will learn how to plan, shop for, and cook healthy meals. “THE TEEN HEROES WHO DONATE THEIR TIME TO THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE ARE INSPIRING AND PROVIDE AN INDICATION OF THEIR FUTURE COMMITMENT TO MAKING THE WORLD A MORE ACCEPTING, TOLERANT AND JOYFUL The 11th Annual Heroes Gala, which honored Stacey and Dan PLACE TO LIVE.” Levitan and 150 teen hereos, was the most successful event to PATTY LAZARUS, EVENT CHAIR date. On May 15th, more than 500 friends and community leaders gathered in support of the Friendship Circle and in celebration of the dedication and hard work of our teen volunteers. The dinner raised over $500,000 for Friendship Circle programs. Funds will enable the organization to serve more children, help create continuing generations of teen leaders and build more inclusive friendships. On October 7, more than 700 children, families, sponsors and partners came out to participate in the much anticipated annual “Walk with Friendship”. The walk is a special day to raise awareness around inclusion and to celebrate the fundraising efforts of all of our teams and individuals. Funds raised through sponsorship or event participation helps us serve even more children and families who need our vital programs and support. ChaplinsBellevue Subaru Otto-Matic Mobile Music Children’s Therapy Clinics the center for pediatr dentist Avinoam Baral John & Alison Burchett Avishai Baral Jennie Burns Steven Baral Cynthia Burr Joseph & Karyn Barer Janis Burroughs Michelle Barnes Dan & Jill Calvo Sheryl Barnes William Campbell Joel & Sarah Baskin Bill & Christine Campbell Sanjay & Kate Batra Eric Candell Jacquie Bayley Benjamin Cape Aurora Bearse Michael Cape Julie Beckman Noah Cape Michael Beers Robert & Bonnie Cape Paula Begoun Bruce & Esther Caplan Helene Behar Pearl Caplan Howard Behar Herb & Hagar Carr Jay & Michelle Behar Martin Michael Casey ANNUAL Craig & Jill Beilinson Boris & Margaret Castellanos Tamar Ben-Dov Yehuda & Chana Chakoff Avi & Keren Ben-Menahem Jeannie Chance Robert & Susan Benardout Kent & Barbara Chaplin DONORS Larry & Sherry Benaroya Jane Chiong Tamar Bendov David & Julie Chivo Samis Foundation Michael & Rinah Benoliel Howard & Holly Chizeck CORPORATIONS Schultz Family Foundation Eric & Gloria Bensussen Chris Clark-Talley Adobe Isador Simon Family Foundation Larry & Shelley Bensussen Tamara Clarke Susan Benyowitz Marci Clevenger Alaska Airlines The Sunbridge Foundation Rachel Bernbaum-Goodman Gaby Clingman American Life Inc. Tulalip Tribe Charitable Fund Boeing Daniel & Carolyn Bernhard Bobby & Beth Cohanim John & Kelly Bernhard Porta Lee Cohanim Chaplins Subaru DONORS Aaron & Ruth Bernstein Gordon & Trisha Cohen Classic Accessories Marco & Molly Abbruzzese Neal & Leslie Bernstein Michael & Suzanne Cohen Commerce Bank Irwin & Mila Abouaf Louis Beryl Steve & Susie Cohen Costco Alan Abramson George & Jane Beyer Mark & Nettie Cohodas Deniham Corporation Tom & Anne Acker Brian & Lisa Bienstock Melissa Cole International Marine Industrial Sean & Sue Adelman Fleet Foundation Bishop Kim Comstock Market Optical Amy Adler Diana Black Sean Corcoran Microsoft Joshua Adler Perry & Sandra Bloch Carla Corkern MinuteMan Press - Bellevue Joshua & Amy Adler David & Vivian Blum Kevin & Gail Coskey Providence Health & Services Kate Adler Bruce & Ann Blume Erin Crawford Katherine Adler QFC Rodney Blumenstein Moshe & Bracha Cress Steve & Nance Adler Eileen Bocci Campbell Tim Cress Safeco Insurance David & Jennifer Adut Elazar & Esther Bogomilsky Dino & Jeannine Cristofilis Seattle’s Childrens Jay & Adrien Agoado Samuel & Yehudis Bogomilsky Ian & Aurora Crosby Wells Fargo Yonatan Ahdut Yitzy & Etty Bogomilsky Kit Cudahy Swedish Medical Ron & Noreen Akins Robert & Jacqueline Bollen Greg & Barb Damon Jennifer Alam David & Jennifer Bolnick Rick & Lara Davis Jim & Catherine Alchin Mary Ann Bolte Roderic Davis FOUNDATIONS Roly Alhadeff Michael & Marianne Bond Lucia De Funis Issac Alhadeff Foundation Brett & Ellen Alkan Bruce & Tina Borrus Lilly De Jaen Benaroya Family Foundation Jim & Catherine Allchin Harvey & Kimberly Bowen Krijn & Judy De Jonge Brookshire Green Foundation Eli & Rebecca Almo Kathy Braddock Sharon Debb Whilliam V. Campbell Foundation Jeff & Shari Altchech Simcha & Valerie Brandeis BJ Denihan Jerry Anches Elizabeth A. Lynn Foundation Colin Brandt Brian & Sandra