Miss Florida is seen with two male Best Buddies program participants holding roses.

The partnership between Best Buddies and Miss America is a celebration of advocacy, friendship, and inclusivity. Best Buddies, with its unwavering commitment to fostering friendships and promoting inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, finds a powerful ally in the Miss America Opportunity, empowering women to lead in their communities. Miss America and Miss America’s Teen ambassadors hope that their contributions of time and resources will have a transformative impact for the Best Buddies International, leading through collaboration and shared values.

Miss America Crown logo

About Best Buddies

All funds raised benefit Best Buddies – the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower the special abilities of people and families with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society.

The IDD community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to, people and families with Down Syndrome, Autism, Fragile X, Williams Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities.

About Miss America

The Miss America Opportunity is the nation’s premier empowerment platform for young women, dedicated to advancing their personal and professional goals while serving as a positive role-model in their communities. With a rich history dating back to 1921, Miss America and Miss America’s Teen mission is ‘Empowering Women to Lead,’ engaging thousands of young women nationwide as local and state brand ambassadors, aged 14-28, committed to community service initiatives. The program, administered through the Miss America Scholarship Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, is the largest provider of women’s scholarships in America.

For additional information, please contact:

Mark Wylie
Vice President, Talent Relations
305.801.3992
MarkWylie@bestbuddies.org