Saint Vincent College Best Buddies Club is planning the first annual “Spring into Friendship Dance” beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 6 in Alcuin Hall. Approximately 50 Saint Vincent College Best Buddies members, as well as other student volunteers, will be present welcoming nearly 100 individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Chapter President Erica Salzman, a junior elementary instruction major from Pittsburgh, was inspired to plan the event after she attended a Best Buddies national leadership conference this past summer. “Through this event we would love to achieve more awareness of Best Buddies on campus and more importantly, we want to show people that individuals with intellectual disabilities are really no different than you or I. They love to dance, have fun, laugh, and just be silly with their friends, just like we do,” Ms. Salzman stated.

The Club pairs one Saint Vincent College “buddy” with one individual with intellectual disabilities from the local region. Saint Vincent students are asked to meet with their buddies at least twice per month. The entire Club hosts a group activity once per month and the student is encouraged to plan a one-on-one activity for their buddy. The upcoming dance is an opportunity for the buddies to share an evening of fun that will include a dinner, dancing, games and a photo booth.

“Our Club has worked very hard to make this event a reality and we are hoping it will be a huge success. We don’t define the success by how many people show up, rather we are hoping to prove how strong friendships really can be despite our differences,” Ms. Salzman concluded.

For more information about the dance e-mail Ms. Salzman at erica.salzman@email.stvincent.edu.

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