Aidan Jamesuke

Best Buddies Hawaii will host the Second Annual Best Buddies “Friendship Jam” on Saturday, November 16, 2013 from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Jimmy Buffett’s Restaurant & Bar, located on the lobby level of the Holiday Inn® Waikiki Beachcomber Resort. The fundraising event will feature:

• Jimmy Borges
• Al Waterson
• Melveen Leed
• Jordan Segundo
• Starr Kalahiki
• Taimane
• Aidan James
• Kings of Spade
• Da Braddah’s
• Rachel Gonzales
• And Surprise Guests!

Attendees will also enjoy complimentary food, refreshments, and a silent auction. Tickets are $50 per person and can be reserved by calling Tammy Evrard at (808) 772-0294 or by visiting “Best Buddies Friendship Jam” on www.bestbuddieshawaii.com. Discounted validated parking at the hotel is available for $3.

All proceeds from the “Friendship Jam” event will help support Best Buddies Hawaii and their local programs to assist challenged youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) at Kapolei Middle and High School, Kaimuki High School, Aiea High School, Pearl City High School, Nanakuli High School and Middle School, Waipahu High School and Kailua Intermediate. Best Buddies of Hawaii is an affiliate of Best Buddies International.

“My younger brother was born with an intellectual disability,” said Michael P. McCormick, state director of Best Buddies Hawaii. “Watching him grow up without great programs like Best Buddies was painful for our entire family. My sister Maureen introduced me to the Best Buddies International organization, and when I learned about their dedication to establishing programs in all 50 states and 50 countries by 2010, I wanted to play a part,” he said.

“In 2007, I volunteered to help bring Best Buddies’ programs to Hawaii and in 2008, we launched our first Hawaii chapter on Maui,” McCormick explained. “Without a doubt this has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and we’re looking forward to celebrating our expansion to the island of Oahu,” he said.

Kings of Spade

For more information on Best Buddies Hawaii, please contact Michael McCormick, Best Buddies Hawaii state director, at (808) 242-6962 or michaelmccormick@bestbuddies.org <mailto:michaelmccormick@bestbuddies.org> .

About Best Buddies Hawaii

Best Buddies Hawaii, initiated on Maui by Michael McCormick in 2008, has established successful programs on Oahu at Kapolei Middle and High Schools, Kaimuki High School, Aiea High School, Pearl City High School, Nanakuli High School and Middle School, Waipahu High School and Kailua Intermediate. On Maui, the program has been established at Kalama and Lokelani Intermediate Schools, Baldwin, King Kekaulike, Lahainaluna and Maui High Schools, Horizon Academy and Seabury Hall.

About Best Buddies International

Best Buddies International is a non-profit 501 (C) 3 organization that creates programs for peer mentoring, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization was originally established by the Kennedy/Shriver family in response to a perceived need for more integration, understanding, and friendship between developmentally handicapped children and other students.