News & Press Releases
Best Buddies IU and Stone Belt host men’s a cappella group Straight No Chaser
> View the Performance Photo Album
Best Buddies enhances the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendship and integrated employment. On Friday, October 24th the Indiana University Best Buddies chapter featured men’s a cappella group Straight No Chaser at Stone Belt. The members of Straight No Chaser founded their a cappella group at Indiana University ten years ago and have recently been signed by Atlantic Records for a five-album record deal.
The men of Straight No Chaser enjoyed painting frames to hold a group photo taken with the Best Buddies participants at Stone Belt Friday afternoon. The participants also enjoyed a live concert from the men, including dancing and a birthday serenade to one of the participants with a disability. Indiana University College Buddy Director Alex Willhardt. stated, “It’s great to see people who have an influence in the community interact with our Best Buddies chapter and realize what we are all about.” Alex’s Best Buddy is Cheryl Thompson, who stated “I liked the dancing” in reference to Straight No Chaser’s performance. Alex and Cheryl like taking Alex’s dog to for walks and going to the mall together to get their picture taken as a part of their Best Buddies friendship.
Straight No Chaser was featured in The New York Times October 3rd, and will be at the Indiana University Auditorium Saturday, October 25th at 7:30pm. Their new album, “Holiday Spirits” will be released on October 28th and is available for sale at the performance. Jerome Collins, Straight No Chaser member, shared some of his thoughts about the group’s newfound success, “We’re staying humble and never forget where we came from. No one of us is bigger than the group as a whole.” The men were gracious, entertaining, and compassionate with the Best Buddies group, and the evidence was visible in the shining smiles of the intimate crowd at Stone Belt Friday afternoon.
About Best Buddies International
Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,300 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States. We have accredited international programs on six continents; with additional country programs under active development. Our six formal programs – Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies and Jobs – positively impact more than 350,000 individuals. Best Buddies also is systematically implementing our 2010 initiative that will witness the organization’s continued significant growth, both domestically and overseas. Best Buddies volunteers annually contribute, at no cost to their communities, support services that equate to $70 million USD. Best Buddies has a strong presence within Indiana with 45 high school and 16 college chapters located throughout the state including Indiana University, Bloomington High School North, Edgewood High School, and Brown County High School. For more information, visit www.bestbuddies.org.