Event Details
5:30 pm Reception | 7 pm Dinner
Celebrate 21 Years of Friendship! Partner with us to expand friendship and inclusion for children, teens, and adults with special needs through our 21st Annual Heroes Gala. Join our Circle, where everyone experiences a vital sense of belonging-essential for our collective well-being.
About the Friendship Circle of Washington
Expanding friendship to youth with special needs through kindness and compassion.
Cultivating the mental and emotional well-being of teenage volunteers through wellness practices.
Elazar and Esther Bogomilsky created the Friendship Circle of Washington in 2004 to address the lack of programs supporting social and emotional acceptance for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the community. Through promoting empathy and inclusion, we ensure that everyone thrives in their community. Pairing youth with disabilities with typically developing teen volunteers fosters lasting friendships and builds a more inclusive community. This year, our dedicated teenage volunteers represent 49 private and public schools in the area. Together, they've contributed over 40,000 hours to connect youth with disabilities with typical teenagers, bridging the gap between them. The Friendship Circle of Washington is the sole organization in Western Washington employing a social integration model for youth.
Our 12 tailored programs empower youth and families to address the evolving needs of building inclusion in our community. Through therapeutic practices like yoga, music, art, and other accessible activities, we provide meaningful fun for all.
Our most active programs include:
Sunday Circle Friends@Home Teen and Young Adult Life Skills UMatter Summer Camp