UCF Best Buddies host Taste of Friendship

Cheers of excitement could be heard throughout the Student Union as the Best Buddies fourth-annual Taste of Friendship kicked off with the Cha Cha Slide.

Best Buddies pair people with intellectual disabilities in one-on-one friendships with UCF students. The chapter strives to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing them the opportunity to participate in some of the same social activities of college students.

The event, which raised more than $500, took place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 31 in the Pegasus Ballroom, with many students stopping by to donate and grab some free food.

The fundraiser was all about awareness for Best Buddies, but it was also a time for friendship and relaxation among the students.

Even though it is Taylor Marchetti's first year in Best Buddies, she has already made many friends in the group.

"My favorite part is the free food," said Marchetti, as she snacked on pizza with her friends.

DJ Bobby Deese was a big hit with the students at the event. The buddies on the dance floor knew every word and dance move to go along with the songs he played, ranging from "Thriller" to Soulja Boy. Many of the buddies danced during the entire event, reminding everyone how to have a good time.

Money was raised through a $1 raffle where the donors had a chance of winning prizes including gift cards for Smoothie King, Panera, Target, Urban Outfitters and a one-hour massage.

"Without a successful Taste of Friendship, our organization would not be able to run properly and hold monthly events," said junior finance major Janey Martin, fundraising coordinator for Best Buddies.

Martin fell in love with helping the disabled after volunteering at multiple Special Olympics in high school.

"I was really excited to join UCF Best Buddies in hopes of getting paired with a buddy that I could spend time with and learn from," Martin said.

The vendors that Martin secured for the event included Huey Magoo's, Marco's Pizza, Jeremiah's Italian Ice and Del Taco.

There are a few programs that the club coordinates with where the buddies come from, such as the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

There are about 45 buddies in the program and eight of them are students at UCF.

"We try to pair the buddies profiles with the students profiles because we want their friendships to work," said Jared Taylor, president of Best Buddies and junior physical therapy/occupational therapy major.

Taylor has been a part of Best Buddies for three years now, but his first interaction with disabled students was in high school as part of a special football team where he coached a buddy.

As buddies danced the afternoon away, a slideshow of pictures from past events was projected on the wall.

The Taste of Friendship is the main fundraiser and awareness event of the year for the club but there is an event at least once a month.

"This semester we are planning a Valentines Party, a Relay for Life team and a VIP night as an end-of-the-year celebration,"  Martin said.

Last semester, the club had a match party where students got paired with a buddy and went to a UCF football and basketball game with him or her, as well as a fall festival and holiday party.

"My favorite part [about the club] is my buddy and the friendship we share," said junior psychology major Michelle Ferrer, as she danced to Justin Bieber with a buddy from the club.

Many of the students in the club intend on working with disabled individuals as part of their careers but the club is not restricted to specific majors.