In early June, The Friendship Initiative, a Parkland based 501 C 3, kicked off #TFIGiveMe5, to raise awareness about the importance of friendship and compassion. Kids with special needs and typical teens are coming together to kick off The
The #TFIGiveMe5 concept is to create a virtual “High 5” chain that goes across state boundaries because #FriendshipHasNoBoundaries and to raise awareness about the power of friendship. This is The Friendship Initiative’s version of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that took the world by storm last year and raised over $18 million for ALS.
The challenge component will be to create a “High 5” chain that keeps on going – via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Vine, YouTube – with the idea that if you don’t keep the chain going, then you donate $5 (or do both!)
The team organizing this campaign hopes the simplicity of sharing a high 5 will pique the interest of many and through this simple and small gesture, make a big impact in changing people’s perceptions about children and young adults with special needs.
“The reality is that kids with special needs have to exist in a typical world,” says Jeb Niewood, founder of The Friendship Initiative and Parkland Buddy Sports.
Founded in 2011, The Friendship Initiative provides programs and projects for children with special needs and volunteer opportunities for community-minded typical teens. The kids connect in peer-to-peer activities that create lasting bonds of friendship. The Friendship Initiative is currently enrolling participants for programs that will begin again in the Fall, and is looking for adult volunteers interested in fundraising, marketing, general outreach and program development.
Jeb says, “We are encouraging people to take photos or videos of themselves high fiveing with a friend or holding up a special message for a loved one and then sharing those images through social media. Take photos of yourself doing a high five with someone, donate $5 and tell/tag 5 friends in your photo about The Friendship Initiative. Don’t break the chain!”
He continues, “We hope to make this campaign viral and that our message will spread across the county, globally and that everyone will be high fiveing for Friendship!”
Jeb and his volunteer partners are excited that this movement will also raise awareness and funds for Friendship Park, a re-design of Terramar Park that will be fully adaptive for people with special needs.
For more info regarding participation and volunteering, see www.thefriendshipinitiative.org #TFIGiveMe5 campaign.
