the Informer

One of the university’s most philanthropic organizations received a grant for $15,000 on Sunday, March 7, from the Newman’s Own Foundation Campus Community Service Challenge.

The university’s Best Buddies chapter competed against student community service organizations from eight other America East Conference schools. Best Buddies came in second place; the first prize was a $25,000 grant.

Best Buddies pairs individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with college students for one-on-one friendships. There are Best Buddies chapters in all 50 states, spread across over 1,400 college, high school and middle school campuses across the country. There are also international chapters. According to the Best Buddies of Connecticut Web site, the services provided by Best Buddies volunteers equal approximately $70 million.

The organization was awarded the prize for its involvement with the Farmington Valley Transition Academy. Members of Best Buddies are paired with 19 young adults who attend the FVTA, all of whom have intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The University of Vermont’s Campus Kitchen in connection with the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf took the top prize. The $10,000 third place prize went to the University of Maine’s Black Bear Mentors in connection with The River Coalition.

Bob Forrester is the president and CEO of Newman’s Own Foundation and is also an alumnus of the university. He graduated in 1966 and serves as a regent to the university.

“Paul Newman believed that giving back is the greatest opportunity and responsibility for making the world a better place,” said Forrester in an article on UNotes.

“Continuing his philanthropic legacy, Newman’s Own Foundation is proud to support the ideas, work, and partners of these exemplary student groups, who are making a difference in their communities today and who will continue to lead long after their university days.”

The awards were given out by the Newman’s Own Foundation based on two factors: “1) The level of the student group’s involvement with its affiliated nonprofit, and the degree to which that involvement reflects Paul Newman’s philanthropic spirit of creativity and commitment; and 2) The actual mission and programs of the nonprofit, the populations and purposes it serves, and the impact the Foundation’s grant will have on it.”

Organizations at the University at Albany, Binghamton University, Boston University, the University of Maryland Baltimore County, the University of New Hampshire and Stony Brook University each received grants for $7,500 each. This was a 50 percent increase from the original $5,000 Honorable Mention grants.

“We thought bringing this challenge to America East Conference campuses would be a good way to seed future leadership with these ideals,” Forrester said in another UNotes article.

“The responses from the universities have demonstrated that the cornerstone for philanthropy is already solidly in place at these institutions. In fact, these students represent the next generation of leadership,” he said.

In total, $100,000 in grants was awarded on Sunday during the tournament, which was sponsored by the Newman’s Own Foundation. Best Buddies was founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver.