Best Buddies Indiana
Spreading inclusion through friendship, integrated employment, and leadership development Our newest program, Best Buddies Jobs opened in 2016.
Best Buddies Indiana was founded in 2002 through the support of the Indiana Down Syndrome Foundation. From that time, through the generous support of many sponsors, grants from foundations and the INDOE, Best Buddies Indiana has opened 85 chapters statewide.
13/05/2026
That's a wrap on the Lake County Friendship Walk! 👟✨
We're so thankful for all the schools, sponsors, teams, fundraisers, volunteers, and supporters who joined us at the walk. Over 1,000 people came out to show just how important friendship is- creating a more inclusive community for all! 💜
If you still want to make a difference and help us reach our fundraising goal of $53,000, go to www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/lakecounty to donate today!
08/05/2026
🎉 Tomorrow's the big day! 🎉
Join us at the Lake County Fairgrounds on Saturday, May 9, to celebrate all things inclusion!
We're $20,000 away from our fundraising goal! When you donate to the Friendship Walk, you're helping to create inclusive friendships, jobs, and leadership opportunities all across Indiana. Go to www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/lakecounty/donate/ and support Best Buddies today 💜
06/05/2026
Our sponsors help make inclusion a reality in Lake County! ✨
A BIG thank you to Carpenters Local 2950, Plumbers Local 210, Purdue University College of Education Department of Special Education, Centier Bank, Crown Cranial & Orthotics, and New York Life Foundation for their support of the Lake County Friendship Walk! 🎉💜
Still haven't signed up for the walk? Go to https://www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/lakecounty/ and register today!
05/05/2026
It's Teacher Appreciation Day! We're so grateful for the amazing Faculty Advisors who support their chapters and make Indiana schools more inclusive 💜
Leave a message in the comments below to a teacher in your life who's helping to spread the Best Buddies mission of inclusion! ✨
04/05/2026
5 MORE DAYS! 💜✨
We can't wait to see everyone walking for inclusion in Lake County! Grab your buddy and join us to be a part of a global movement working to make the world more welcoming to people with IDD- one friendship, one job, and one life-changing connection at a time.
If you ask 5 people to donate $10 over the next 5 days, you'd raise enough money for your Friendship Walk t-shirt! 🤩 Go to www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/lakecounty/ to start your fundraising today.
01/05/2026
We're heading up north for this ! 💜✨
Protsman Elementary School is all in for inclusion! Their entire school joined together to write different ways to be a good friend on a paper chain displayed through their school. They're also showing off their Friendship Walk pride with tennis shoes to celebrate people who have registered or donated to their team!
Thank you, Protsman Best Buddies, for creating a culture of inclusion in your school! 👏
30/04/2026
We're just over halfway to reaching our Lake County Friendship Walk fundraising goal! 🎉 We need one final push to get us across the finish line, and we know our Best Buddies community can make it happen!
The money raised during the Friendship Walk goes to support our inclusive friendships, jobs, and leadership opportunities across Indiana!
Here are 3 easy ways you can help us reach our goal:
💜 Register or donate to the walk at www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/lakecounty
💜 Ask 3 friends to do the same and support your fundraising page
💜 Share your story on social media with
Together, we can make a difference! 🫶
27/04/2026
The Lake County Friendship Walk is coming up! Volunteers are an important part of making our Friendship Walks a success! 💜
We're currently looking for volunteers for before, during, and after the walk in a variety of areas. Don't miss out on a great opportunity to get involved with the Friendship Walk!
🗣 If you're interested in volunteering, email Avery VanMiddlesworth at [email protected]!
23/04/2026
Meet Darren and Sarah, our Mission Moments speakers at the Indianapolis Walk! We loved getting to hear about the bond they've developed through our Citizens program, where they've been matched in a one-to-one friendship for almost 4 years 💜
Best Buddies Citizens builds one-to-one friendships between adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Interested in joining Citizens and finding a friendship that last a lifetime? Email [email protected] for more information! ✨
21/04/2026
Thank you to everyone who made the Indianapolis Friendship Walk such a success! Together, we've raised almost $160,000 to support friendship, jobs, and leadership opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Indiana 🎉
It's not too late to help us reach our $175,000 goal! Go to the link in our bio to give 💜
Now we're on to Lake County for the Friendship Walk on Saturday, May 9! 👟✨
18/04/2026
Tomorrow's the big day! 🎉
We can't wait to see everyone at Victory Field for a day of inclusion, friendship and fun. Online registration is closed, but you still join us at the walk starting at 9am to register in person! 👟✨
We're $25,000 away from our fundraising goal of $175,000! Go to https://www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/indianapolis/ to help us reach our goal and create more inclusive friendships, jobs, and leadership opportunities across Indiana 💜