How To Better Serve ‘Needs’

By COLlive reporter

With over 79 chapters worldwide pairing 5,000 special children with 11,000 teen volunteers, Friendship Circle is clearly the fastest growing Jewish organization for children with special needs.

But now it’s time to make it even better.

Friendship Circle International, a division of The Shluchim Office in New York, is now focusing on streamlining their unique approach of bringing together teenage volunteers and children with special needs for hours of fun and friendship.

A conference recently held at the Sheraton hotel in Edison, NJ, featured an array of speakers and professionals who shared with the 85 attendees useful ideas to further that goal.

Rabbis Hesh Epstein and Aaron Herman lectured on how local Friendship Circles can ensure that their success benefits nearby Chabad Houses and other moisdos, while Devorah Krasnianski facilitated a discussion on the six steps of a successful teen volunteer club.

Michael Abidor of Chabad of Riverdale, NY, presented on Fundraising and Strategic Planning and Ray Araujo, Founder and CEO of RadarWorks.com, gave a presentation on Response Marketing and Daniel Gold of DEG Consulting walked everyone through creating a simplified social media strategy.

A session during the 2 day gathering discussed advanced special needs training and behavioral techniques and was presented by Libby Klein and Jill Sherman.

“Speaking for myself, and I’m sure others, it was extremely useful, inspirational and worthwhile,” said Shlucha Rickelle New, co-director of Friendship Circle of Atlanta. “I look forward to implementing everything learned.”