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Info taken from Broadside article: "Best Buddies to Hold Valentine's Dance," by Whitney Rhodes.

Valentine’s Day is no longer for starry-eyed lovers.
Best Buddies plans to fill Dewberry Hall with students and their buddies, the intellectually disabled patrons of Mason’s Life Program, in their Valentine’s Day dance on Feb. 10. From 3:00 - 6:30 p.m. in Dewberry Hall, the Best Buddies’ largest annual event boasts attendance from all of its Virginia chapters The cost is $7 per person, $10 per pair.
In Virginia there are 13 participating high schools and eight colleges, including George Mason University, James Madison University, University of Mary Washington and the University of Virginia.
More than 360 campuses worldwide take part in the Best Buddies program, an international non-profit organization that grants friendships and employment opportunities to people with intellectual disabilities.
The Mason chapter currently holds 15 active student-buddy pairs and is looking for additional volunteers.
“It’s a great opportunity to reach out to people in need you might not have access to,” said Marijke Armstrong, Mason Best Buddies chapter president and a junior psychology major. “The best thing about the program is their spirit, getting to know the buddies. They’re very cool people, very happy.”
Best Buddies allowed Christina Begley, a freshman marketing major, to take an outside experience and apply it on campus.
“I was looking for an organization to join. My mom worked with mentally disabled kids, and I used to help. Best Buddies seemed like a cool choice,” said Begley. “It brings the campus together. You give the people the chance to give back. When you’re with a buddy, or even a simple phone call or email, it makes their day.”
Proceeds from the dance will send a buddy along with next year’s leader to the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference
If interested in volunteering or donating, contact Armstrong at marmstro@gmu.edu.
Mason Profile:
Marijke Armstrong
Junior, Psychology
Best Buddies President (Mason Chapter)
Armstrong stood in front of the WGMU station wearing scrubs and carrying a fat binder with ‘Best Buddies’ printed on the cover. She couldn’t stay long, understandably so, as her endeavors don’t stop at being Mason’s Best Buddies president. A Mason junior, six-year technician assistant at Centreville Animal Hospital, and active participant in children and youth programs at Falls Church Presbyterian Church, it is a wonder she has the time to stop and chat, much less eat or sleep.
“I find time to work by using all my time very efficiently,” said Armstrong. “The actual commitment as a member of Best Buddies is very flexible and is worked out between you and your buddy, so being president really just throws in a lot of extra paperwork, which I do at any hour possible.”
Understandable, but what about the baggy-eyed, sore-footed question: Why?
“I volunteer because I love the cause. I feel like everyone could give back to the community a little more. I've been very blessed in my life so far, and I feel that it is very important to extend a helping hand to others whenever necessary.”