Career
Shriver is the Founder and Chairman of Best Buddies International a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization which he created in 1989 dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Recognizing the tremendous volunteer potential of university students, Anthony first inspired his college peers to personally collaborate in expanding the realm of opportunities that persons with intellectual disabilities should experience. He began his group at the Kennedy Institute in Washington, DC, a school for children with disabilities, founded by the Kennedy Family. Shriver spoke in 2008 about the all-inclusive nature of the program:
"The great thing about Best Buddies is there’s something for everybody. You can be a volunteer in some shape, form or fashion, whether you’re volunteering to get your kids involved, whether your son or daughter is involved in their school program, whether you want to be a mentor yourself as an adult, whether you want to get an online Buddy, whether you’re an employer and want to hire someone with a disability to work in your office—if you’ve got any sense of motivation and determination and want to give back, there’s a role for you at Best Buddies, which I think is pretty unique. Even in Special Olympics, for most people, you can be a coach or a spectator, but you’re not going to run the 50-yard dash. In Best Buddies, you’re running the 50-yard dash with your Buddy. People get a different level of experience by participating, as opposed to writing a check, though that’s important, too. But beyond writing checks, we need people to get involved and give their time."
Today, through Anthony’s stewardship and entrepreneurial spirit, Best Buddies has grown into a leading nonprofit entity with increasing international reach across six continents; establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In addition, Anthony and his brother Timothy Shriver (the Chairman and CEO of the Special Olympics) have recently joined forces and aligned Best Buddies and the Special Olympics, to create the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Challenge event, aimed to encourage greater acceptance and inclusion for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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