Plymouth Whitemarsh High School hosts Buddy Ball for the first time
Plymouth Whitemarsh High School hosts Buddy Ball for the first time
Plymouth Whitemarsh High School hosted over 350 guests from around the area for the 2026 Buddy Ball, a gathering for Best Buddies chapters throughout eastern Pennsylvania that promoted friendship and inclusion.
The high school’s Best Buddies club assisted in the organization of this large event on Feb. 21 by helping to make decorations, such as a garland of hanging hearts that adorned the entrance and the registration table. Students also assisted in gathering donations of food and setting up for and cleaning up after the event. Co-President Peyton Stauffer and her father donated food; John Nicolosi and his mother donated dessert from Nothing Bundt Cakes and Happy Mixer; and Co-President Mia VanCoillie and Co-Vice President Emma VanCoillie, along with their sister Sophia and their parents, helped set up at 9 a.m. and were among the last to leave when the event was over.
In addition to dancing and music, students who attended had the chance to play games and participate in community building for chapters across the region.
Student Brayden McClendon Green said he appreciated having the opportunity to just be among his peers at the event.
“My favorite part about the Buddy Ball was all the games that I played with my friends, and just, like, hanging out,” he said.
For John Nicolosi, it was hard to pinpoint just one thing that was great about the event.
“I gotta say my favorite part of the Buddy Ball was definitely all the food and the games, the dance - honestly, everything was just awesome. I loved it all,” he said.
Best Buddies is a club that helps students to develop one-to-one and group friendships between individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with their peers. Students participate in both small and large group social events throughout the year.
