Anneliese Barron reads to her son Matthew at their Franklin home.
Nashville Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz and Anneliese Barron hold up autographed hockey jerseys, which will be auctioned at the annual Gala and Silent auction benefitting Best Buddies.
Photos by Ashley Bone
by ASHLEY BONE Staff Writer | Franklin Life
Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver in 1989. Best Buddies establishes one-on-one peer partnerships with people who have disabilities. Its mission is to “create opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
Barron, whose 3-year old son Matthew has Down Syndrome, said she found out about Best Buddies shortly after he was born.
“He was born with a hole in his heart. I knew the doctors would fix it but I wondered if he would have friends or be made fun of when he was older,” she said. “After seeing a Best Buddies promo on NBC sports, I thought if Best Buddies was in Nashville, I wouldn't worry.”
Barron called the organization and asked if there was a Nashville office.
“I was told no but they said I could spearhead the fundraising,” she said.
After thinking about it for a year, Barron, decided it was time to take action she was pregnant with her third child.
The first fundraiser was held in October 2008 and by the fourth fundraiser in December 2009, she'd reached the goal. Cocktail parties, an annual 5k run and annual Gala at The Factory were the fundraising methods used.
Barron is now approaching local schools and she hopes to have six high schools on board this spring. Comprehensive training and attendance at a national leadership conference are offered to each local chapter president and the Buddy director. Best Buddies also helps individuals with disabilities to grow in leadership opportunities because each school chapter's buddy director is a person with a disability.
Barry Trotz, the Head Coach of the Nashville Predators, has been an active supporter of Best Buddies and its initial fundraising campaign. His connections in Nashville go beyond donated jerseys and autographed hockey memorabilia and extend in the country music industry.
“I have a horse in this race too,” Trotz said of his 9-year-old son Nolan who has Down Syndrome.
Trotz said he's closer to the realization that when his son becomes a teenager, it's often the time when the isolation stage starts among people with disabilities.
Trotz said as a parent, his concerns are not that his son won't feel loved.
“The biggest fear is the isolation factor when he gets older,” Trotz said, adding Best Buddies bridges the isolation gap. “Often, people with disabilities as young adults only have friends with disabilities and that to me isn't right.”
Barron said Best Buddies really offers its participants many opportunities to do things such as community service and job opportunities.
“It’s life changing for both participants,” she said. ”It will help people to see their abilities not their disabilities. The program highlights things they can do.”
One element of the program is called E buddies, which is an e-mail pen pal program consisting of peer volunteers.
In addition to Best Buddies being a valuable tool for people with disabilities, it changes the lives of the peer participants without disabilities.
Dan Hamhuis, a Nashville Predators player, has a best buddy named Clay.
“Danny said it doesn't matter what happens in a game when he sees Clay cheering for him,” Trotz said. “I'm that way too. After a loss, I'll see Nolan and it puts me in the right place.”
Barron said after having Matthew, it's really changed her as a person.
“I used to see a young man in the area with Down Syndrome and I would say hello,” she recalled. “After I had Matthew, I got to know the young man as a person. If I hadn’t gotten to know this young man, it would have been my loss, not his.”
Trotz said Anneliese has done a great job in her efforts to bring Best Buddies to Middle Tennessee.
After raising the funds, she was named as the Best Buddies director for Tennessee. Barron, who was previously a stay at home mom, accepted the position.
“I told them I'd do it since I was already volunteering but if they find someone whom they feel is better than me, then that's who I want to be here,” she said.
A Best Buddies staff office will open this spring at the Cool Springs YMCA.
Local chapters will start at high school and college levels, but Barron said as the organization grows within the Middle Tennessee community, her goal is to see chapters at the middle school and elementary school levels.
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