Best Buddies California

06/03/2026

Amanda is a dedicated Custodial Specialist with Los Angeles Habilitation House (LAHH), helping keep Harbor Regional Center clean, safe, and germ-free. After nearly two years on the job, Amanda continues to take pride in her work and the team around her.

“I love working for LAHH and I feel like this is the best job for me! Everyone works as a team and we’re like family.” - Amanda

A special thank you to LAHH, a valued Best Buddies partner committed to training and employing individuals with IDD. In addition to supporting Amanda’s success, LAHH currently employs two other Best Buddies Jobs participants, helping create meaningful pathways to inclusive employment in our community 💜

05/30/2026

It’s graduation season! 🎓 As our chapter members and leaders turn the page to their next adventure, we’re celebrating all they’ve accomplished and the impact they’ve made. The legacy you leave behind will continue to create opportunities for friendship, belonging, and acceptance for years to come. Cheers to the Class of 2026! 💜

05/28/2026

BIG news! Alex received his first paycheck today from his new role as Assistant Bookkeeper at Elk Grove Tree Service 🎉

As a recent Best Buddies Project SEARCH graduate with an AA degree in Accounting, Alex set out to build a career doing what he loves: working with numbers. Now, Alex gets to put his skills to work at a local business that values his talent, and we couldn’t be more proud of him 👏

05/22/2026

Over the past four years, Riley and Tom have built a friendship rooted in fun 🫶 After being matched through the OC Citizens program, Riley says, “the rest was history.”

Tom describes Riley as “a nice rock” during a time when maintaining friendships became more difficult, sharing that their friendship “has made [his] life a lot fuller.” ✨

05/14/2026

The Sacramento Friendship Walk photos are in 📸 💜 What an outstanding day! We exceeded our fundraising goal by 8%, raising an incredible $56,113, and welcomed 865 registered walkers, which is a 33% increase from last year! A special shoutout to top fundraiser Natalie Neal, Davis Senior High School Chapter President, for raising more than $3,725 in support of our programs 👏 
 
Since bringing the Friendship Walk to Sacramento in 2022, the momentum has continued to grow each year, and we’re so grateful for everyone who supports and believes in our mission of inclusion 🙌 We can’t wait to see what we achieve together next year!

05/14/2026

Congratulations to our Sacramento Project SEARCH graduates! 🎓✨

Over the past 9 months, these incredible interns have completed classroom instruction paired with hands-on workplace experience, building the skills and confidence to take the next step in their employment journey. We are so proud of all they’ve accomplished and can’t wait to help them pursue and land their dream jobs! 💜

05/13/2026

05/11/2026

Still feeling so grateful for everyone who made the Fresno Friendship Walk such a success! 💜 413 walkers came together to raise an incredible $35,656 for our local inclusion efforts, which is nearly 100 more walkers than last year! 👏 Special shoutout to our top fundraiser, Ryan Yost, for raising $3,000 for our programs. Thank you for helping our community continue to grow!

Photos by Samantha Rangel & Alex Ramos III