Committed to inclusion for all, Friendship Circle of Washington leverages the positive impact of friendship, understanding, and shared experience to transform the lives of children and teens with special needs and typically developing teens. We help create friendships that make a difference today and last a lifetime. We empower children and teens with special needs, helping them develop the skills they need to live as productive and independent adult lives as possible. We empower our teen volunteers, helping them develop the confidence, self-esteem, and skills they need to become the leaders of tomorrow. We nurture community, working to ensure that inclusion and diversity are the norm, not the exception and that every individual has the opportunity to participate and succeed.
External link for The Friendship Circle of Washington
2737 77th Ave SE
Mercer Island, Washington 98040, US
Join Us for Community Kindness Day 2024! Mark your calendar on September 29th for the 11th annual Community Kindness Day: Walk with Friendship. We are on a mission to raise Acts of Kindness throughout the community, and we need YOU to help us make it happen! It will be an unforgettable day filled with a 1K Walk, Resource Fair, Entertainment, delicious food, and so much more! Register today!
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📢 We're Hiring! Join our team as a Behavior Support Specialist for our Sunday Circle program! We're seeking a committed individual with experience supporting children with special needs and a passion for making a positive impact. Your role will be crucial in fostering a supportive and enjoyable environment for our amazing kids. Interested? Reach out to us today to learn more and apply.
Happy Summer! While our regular programs take a break, here are some ways you can still make a difference and volunteer! Join Friends@Home or sign up for our Summer Adventure Camp from August 20th to 23rd for fun-filled days of activities! Don't miss out—let's make this summer unforgettable! Sign up to volunteer at Summer Camp:
Excited to share the impactful details of the 19th Annual Heroes Gala, recently featured in the Mercer Island Reporter. Friendship Circle of Washington is dedicated to fostering inclusion for all by creating impactful friendships between children and teens with special needs and their typically developing peers. We empower children with special needs to develop essential life skills for independence, and we support our teen volunteers in building confidence and leadership abilities. Our mission is to nurture a community where diversity and inclusion are standard, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate and succeed. Our Annual Heroes Gala is our own special way of sharing kindness, inclusion, and friendship with the community. You are ALL welcome in our circle. Read the article here:
The Friendship Circle of Washington reposted this
Event Auctioneer, MC, Online & TV Host | 3-time Emmy Award winning storyteller | MattLorch.com
Our son (pictured) is nonverbal and requires a wheelchair to get around. For him, making friends is not just challenging… it’s nearly impossible. Big thanks to The Friendship Circle of Washington, a nonprofit which pairs typically developing teenagers with kiddos with special needs, to end that isolation and create a culture of inclusion. (Our son seen here laughing a few years ago with one of those AMAZING teenage volunteers)😄 THANK YOU to the generous supporters who came together for the 2024 Heroes Gala and raised almost $700,000 for the organization -- blowing away our fundraising goal!🙏 It was an absolute honor to serve as host and auctioneer for the record-breaking night!!! Big thanks to Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky, esther bogomilsky, Sari Weiss, Kimberleigh Bechtolt, and the team at Friendship Circle of Washington for their hard work on the event!!! Congrats to our honorees Joel Mezistrano and Hoda Mezistrano and their family!🤩 Kudos to the Gala Committee: Shelley Bensussen, Courtney Connor, Marikay Cuthill, Andrea Dickstein, Alla Goziker, Elicia Lott, Alisa Margolis, Hoda Mezistrano, Lisa Morris, Julie Newell, Chelsea Nov, Jan Prossin, Irit Shechtman, Gabrielle Sonnino, Lindsey Warnick and Lisi Mezistrano Wolf!👊 Great to see longtime friends Kyle Kelly, Brian Mock, Greg Rosenwald, Aaron Wolff, Shauna Swerland, Leslie Bailey, and their amazing families, who are stepping up to support the organization!😄 📷: Manny Dan Media #Inclusion #disabilitysupport #FriendshipCircleofWA #Fundraising #Auctioneer #EventHost
Excited to share the highlights from our wonderful Sunday Circle x MVP Carnival. After completing their 4-week course, our 6th and 7th grade MVP members volunteered for the very first time! The experience was filled with fun carnival games, friendship, and a surprise visit from the one and only Buoy from the Seattle Kraken! A huge thank you to all the volunteers, parents, and community members who came out to support. Special shoutout to Buoy for making the day even more memorable with his spirited appearance and interactions with everyone. Looking forward to many more events where we can continue to learn, grow, and make a positive impact together! #SundayCircle #MVPCarnival #Friendshipcirclewa #YouthLeadership #Volunteering #SeattleKraken
Join us for our Holocaust Speaker event on Thursday, May 2nd. Naomi Newman will tell the story of both of her parents who survived the Holocaust. Hear her story followed by a Q&A. Delicious snacks will be provided. Parents and teens are invited! RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gQwrggzA