Mission

The Friendship Circle is dedicated to creating a supportive community for special needs children, their families and high school volunteers, giving them the opportunity to unearth their potential, make positive life choices, and realize their dreams.

Since 2001, The Friendship Circle has accomplished its mission by:

• Matching teen volunteers with special needs children and their families
• Developing a network of programs and services for children with special needs offered by caring adults and trained peers
• Creating a sense of responsibility and connection to the community for high school students and families of children with special needs through enriching educational and social opportunities.
• Providing workshops, lectures, programs and parties for parents of children who have special needs. 

Vision

At the heart of all of the Friendship Circle’s programming is the belief that each and every individual can be a productive member of the community and benefit from the social support offered by one’s peers.  Friendship, acceptance and a chance to participate in socially accepted bonding opportunities are critical to achieving this type of inclusive society.

The Friendship Circle aims to provide children and teenagers with autism and other special needs and their families with many of the social and recreational opportunities that are currently available to the general community.  These experiences are essential building blocks for an individual to acquire confidence and self esteem and to ultimately lead a productive, normative adult lifestyle.

We envision a world in which people with special needs and their families experience acceptance, inclusion and friendship as contributing members of society.  We foresee a future where they never again have to suffer the social isolation that has often been so prevalent in society.

The Friendship Circle aims to create an environment for teens that will nurture and inspire them with meaning, purpose, and self-value; a sense of connection to and responsibility for the greater Jewish community through innovative and stimulating programs.  We see this as essential to developing and producing the members and leaders of tomorrow’s community.

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