This past Saturday, over 800 people participated in the 2016 Jonathan’s Walk4Friendship in Scottsdale, AZ. It begins with an opening ceremony and a mile walk that raises funds and community awareness for The Friendship Circle – an organization for individuals with special needs. After the reaching the finish line, walkers and their families can enjoy entertainment, activities, food and much more! Jonathan’s Walk4Friendship is dedicated to Jonathan, a participant in the Friends at Home program. He and his buddy Adam spent countless hours together building a friendship and even their families also became fast friends. In 2010, Jonathan passed away after a short battle with cancer, and it is in his memory that The Friendship Circle has dedicated this walk to. This year the walk has raised a little over $60,000 which is the most they have ever raised at Jonathan’s Walk.
The Friendship Circle of Greater Phoenix was founded in 2005, with the aspirations to extend a helping hand to adults with special needs as well as families who have children with special needs. Their philosophy is that every child is an entire world worthy of love, laughter, nurturing, and connection. In addition to helping those in need, The Friendship Circle has a network of volunteers, the majority being teenagers who are able to reap the rewards of giving themselves. These teenagers are paired with a buddy for weekly home visits with the children. This extends to a full range of activities hosted by The Friendship Circle that include: Sunday Circle, Teen Scene, Art Projects, Community Shabbat Dinners, Sports Circle, life skills, and other activities that cater to the needs of the children, adults, and their families. This program also instills the values of giving and gratitude in the volunteers that help out.
Jonathan’s Walk has many corporate sponsors, and we are proud to say that we are one of them. Everyone Loves Buttons has been working with The Friendship Circle on Jonathan’s Walk since 2012. Each year we help design the t-shirts for the event.
Check out Jonathan’s Walk4Friendship at https://jonathanswalk.com and The Friendship Circle of Greater Phoenix at https://fcaz.org for more information.