What is Friendship Circle?

 

The Friendship Circle is a non-profit organization that addresses the challenges facing the families of children with special needs in an innovative way.

The program begins with the pairing of local teenagers with children and through a full range of activities and events, the Circle creates its own special environment of friendship and love.

The Friendship Circle is non-sectarian and non-denominational. Programs are offered free of charge to qualifying families. 

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 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 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. 

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 Jewish community. 

The Friendship Circle’s wide array of innovative programming promotes a greater awareness and understanding of both the unique needs and gifts of those with special needs, and encourages respect and empathy for those facing difficult challenges.