FEATURED PROFILES

Last spring, I participated in the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port, and it was an amazing experience for me and my family. My 7-year-old daughter, Hadley, has Down Syndrome. The Best Buddies organization is something I have always looked forward to having her be a part of, and the Challenge seemed like a great way for me to get involved in the organization. I attended an info session with the intention of doing the 5K, since I had never been on a road bike. However, the Challenge staff worked their magic, and before I knew it, I was enthusiastically signing up for the 100-mile bike ride!
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“Hi, I’m Eric Matthes, and I live in Seattle. I have Down syndrome and I’m a self-advocate. That means I like to stand up for myself and make responsible choices in my own life. I chose to celebrate friendship with you and Best Buddies! That is MY responsible choice!
When I was in kindergarten, I found out that I had a disability. I was called “RETARDED.”
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Bryan and Will are the personification of the Best Buddies mission at work. Their friendship knows no bounds and they have so much fun together. Everywhere they go, they are the life of the party. In Will’s words, “We’re kind of the same dude.” They are the goofiest guys in the room. Always cracking jokes, dancing, and having the time of their lives together. Bryan and Will truly are, with every essence of the phrase, “best buddies.”
They have shared so much together, just to name a few: Spring Break trips, holidays, football games, and most notably, at the Best Buddies Challenge where they had the opportunity to speak and their story about friendship with Challenge participants and guests.

“Best Buddies has helped me build my confidence as a leader and become and advocate for myself and others with disabilities. I have learned public speaking and leadership skills, and now I help teach public speaking and advocacy to people like me. It has been a powerful experience to be a leader for my peers. I have built my self-confidence, independence, and grown as a person. Best Buddies inspires me to be the best I can be and has made me the leader I am today.”

“My name is Charles Calhoun III, and I am a Best Buddies Global Ambassador. As a Best Buddies Global Ambassador, I have spoken in front of former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and traveled around the United States to speak at various national Best Buddies events. I am also employed with Silicon Valley Bank, and in my spare time, I love to play the drums, write songs and hang out with my friends. I am diagnosed with Williams syndrome, autism, and ADHD. Growing up, I remember the hurtful names people would call me, like retarded.”
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Meet Untwon, an Office Assistant at Natixis Global Asset Management. He is responsible for stocking the printers, cleaning and organizing conference rooms, and re-stocking supplies. He shows up to work early every day and completes all of his responsibilities in a timely manner. Just as importantly, Untwon has built a great relationship with his co-workers at Natixis and is a vital member of their team. He has had great success in his position with Natixis and truly shows what we are all capable of if given a chance to succeed.

Dudley Williams III represents the epitome of a highly-successful Best Buddies Jobs participant here in Boston. After graduating from the Lesley University Threshold Program several years ago, Dudley joined Best Buddies Jobs to work toward his professional goals. Within a few short years, Dudley has become not only one of the strongest spokespersons for Best Buddies Jobs in Massachusetts, but has realized his own ultimate goal of having a full-time job with benefits.