Best Buddies International & Audi

HERNDON, VA - Best Buddies International is dedicated to helping people with intellectual disabilities through connecting them with employment opportunities and helping to establish one-to-one friendships. Its involvement includes more than 1,400 schools and college campuses worldwide. Participants are also represented from all 50 United States.

Audi of America has been a long supporter of the Best Buddies program. According to Article Alley, together they put on charity events that help benefit many individuals. One event was the charity bike ride that took in Hyannis Port in 2009. This event was called the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port. It is a bicycle ride that begins in Boston, Massachusetts and ends at Hyannis Port. The distance was roughly 100 miles. For those who chose not to participate in the ride, they had the option to ride for 20 miles. A third option was to participate in a 5k run or 3k walk. The event was a great success and the proceeds went to the Best Buddies International program.

Audi has made it their social responsibility to contribute to a philanthropic cause, which is why they decided to partner with Best Buddies. Audi believes that it is necessary to have a responsibility towards society as well as the environment and the world's natural resources. For this reason, the car manufacturer plans to reduce CO2 emissions by twenty percent by the end of 2012.

Together, Best Buddies International and Audi of America have raised over 21 million US dollars. 100 percent of the funds went directly to the programs since Audi provided free underwriting services. Lastly, Audi has implemented a job program that would allow people with intellectual disabilities to develop and grow in their career paths.