TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
Get involved, go to friendshipcircle.org/foreverfriendship

W

hen a child is diagnosed
with a special need, parents
devote their time and ener-
gy to ensure the best possible outcomes
for that child. Often forgotten is the
need for friendships essential to every
child’
s success in life. That is where
Friendship Circle steps in.
When Bassie and Rabbi Levi
Shemtov founded Friendship Circle in
1994 it was with one purpose, to offer
friendship to those who needed it most.
“We began Friendship Circle by meet-
ing with community leaders communi-
ty,’
” says Levi. “We learned how isolating
it can be for families of children with
special needs.”
Bassie and Levi reached out to those
families and offered them the oppor-
tunity for their child to meet with a
‘
Buddy’
at their home for a couple hours
after school each week. Teens from
across the community volunteered
their time to become Friendship Circle
Buddies at the Shemtov home. This
was the beginning of Friendship Circle’
s
Afterschool, Weekend and Camp
Programming.
The programs are held at the Ferber
Kaufman Lifetown on Friendship
Circle’
s Meer Center. They combine
structured activities and free play
throughout the facility for children and
their Buddies.
The Bauer activity wing is equipped
with art rooms, waterplay room, life
skills room, music areas and a calming
room. Children also take part in art,
music, baking, play in the Elkus gym
and other activities each week.

“The need for belonging is the
foundation of the other therapies and
behavior work that happens for these
children,” says Erin Berry, Friendship
Circle Program Manager. “Bassie and
Levi’
s foundation for Friendship Circle
comes to life every time a child walks
through those doors.”
Friendship Circle also offers eight
weeks of summer day camp, four days
of overnight camp and a Miracle League
baseball program, inclusive to everyone,
with and without special needs. Many
teens spend their summers volunteer-
ing and build amazing life experiences
from their time with their Buddies.
“Early on we started seeing that the
children with special needs were not
the only ones receiving the gift of friend-
ship,” Levi says. “Teens volunteering also
needed a place where they felt accepted
and could give something back to the
world. At Friendship Circle, everyone
is seen for who they are, not their diag-
nosis or who their parents are or what
type of house they live in.”
While the facility itself is state-of-
the-art, what makes Friendship Circle’
s
programs unique are the bonds made
through unconditional love and accep-
tance.
“Our faith tells us every person is
special and has a purpose,” says Bassie.
“Individuals with special needs have
this unique and beautiful ability to see
life more simply, and often are closer to
God because of that. Friendship Circle
is a space where we are able to give and
receive from each other, because we all
have that special gift inside of us.”

Creating a Circle
of Friendship
Friendship Circle
After School and
Sunday Circle
Programs