Best Buddies Indiana State Director - Sarah Baldini
Sarah Baldini, Best Buddies Indiana State Director
Background
Sarah Baldini joined the Best Buddies team in 2003. A graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Social Studies Education, Sarah started her career as a Middle School Social Studies Teacher before moving to the non-profit sector with Best Buddies. She has served as State Director of the Indiana office since 2005 and previously held positions within the organization as a Program Manager and Deputy Director of Programs. She and her husband, Matt, reside in Fishers, Indiana with their son Andrew.
Why did you choose Best Buddies for employment?
I came across Best Buddies by chance. I was finishing an internship with the Indiana House of Representatives in the spring of 2003 and contemplating a future in state government or re-entering the teaching field. I saw a job posting for a Program Manager position for Best Buddies, an organization I’d never heard of.
The job description appealed to me because of the opportunity to work with schools and students; my experience with philanthropy was limited at that point although I became quickly interested in fund raising. I applied and accepted a position as a Program Manager in June 2003 and haven’t looked back since. At that time our office had only been open for a year and was just getting off the ground with two staff members and 14 chapters.
Today I have a team of 6 full time employees, 1 part time staff member, an intern and two Best Buddies who volunteer in the office once per week. We have chapters on 65 high school and college campuses in the state and are privileged to serve more than 3,500 residents in Indiana. It has been quite an experience and we have celebrated many exciting milestones since establishing operations in Indiana. I am honored to be a part of the Best Buddies movement.
What does friendship mean to you?
Imagine your life with no friends, particularly in high school which is where our programs begin in Indiana. When I look back on that period of my life the most important memory is the friends I had and the experiences we shared. Friendships enhance our quality of life. It is difficult to measure the impact of friendship in statistics and data. How do you translate a young adult with special needs stating the friendships they’ve created through Best Buddies are the best part of their high school experience?
The fact that they don’t have to eat lunch by themselves in the cafeteria and are invited to attend the prom. Or a high school student volunteer who learns so much from her Best Buddy that she decides to major in Special Education in college and change the lives of youth with disabilities as a future teacher. This is what friendship means to me. It is difficult to translate friendship into data and outcomes but I’ve witnessed first hand the impact Best Buddies friendships have had on our participants and can say they are truly life-changing.
What are your goals for your state this year?
Despite a challenging economic climate, 2009 was a successful year for Best Buddies Indiana. We completed an expansion of our High School program and are proud to report we now operate programs on 49 high school and 16 college campuses in the state. We are privileged to serve more than 3,500 Indiana residents through Best Buddies, impacting the lives of more than 17,730 individuals in the state by involving families, friends, teachers and peers.
In light of these program successes, we are cognizant of the extreme challenges facing state budgets and ultimately funding for programs for people with disabilities. However, our staff and Advisory Board remain committed to our mission and will work diligently to maintain current levels of service in the state.
Challenges bring opportunity and we continue to be excited about the future and the opportunities to change lives through Best Buddies in 2010 and beyond.
