About Friendship Circle Colorado
Friendship Circle Colorado was founded on a simple but powerful belief: every child deserves to experience the joy of true friendship. We recognized that children and young adults with special needs often face barriers to forming meaningful connections with their peers, while many teenagers are looking for ways to make a real difference in their community.
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What started as a small initiative has grown into a thriving organization that serves families across Metro Denver and surrounding areas. Today, we continue to break down barriers and build bridges through the transformative power of friendship.
Our Mission
The Friendship Circle of Colorado is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making a dramatic difference in the lives of children and young adults with special needs, and their families, through one-to-one peer mentoring and social-recreational programs in homes, schools, and communities throughout Colorado.
"At Friendship Circle Colorado, we don't just create programs; we create possibilities. Every day, I witness the transformative power of genuine friendship as barriers dissolve and hearts connect. When a child with special needs finds their place to belong, when a parent sees their child truly embraced by their community, and when a teen volunteer discovers the profound joy of unconditional friendship, that's when we know we're not just running an organization, we're nurturing a movement of kindness that changes lives forever."
Rabbi Avraham Mintz, Executive Director
What We Do
We create meaningful connections between teen volunteers and special needs children through:
One-to-One Mentoring
Carefully matched pairs spend quality time together, building genuine friendships that last far beyond program participation.
Social-Recreational Programs
Group activities and events that promote inclusion, confidence, and community integration in fun, supportive environments.
Family Support
Resources and connections that help entire families feel supported and included in their communities.
Community Building
Programs that bring together people of all abilities to celebrate differences and build understanding.
Our Impact
Through our programs, participants experience:
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Increased self-confidence and social skills
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Meaningful friendships that transcend ability differences
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Greater integration into mainstream community activities
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Enhanced empathy and understanding among all participants
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Stronger, more connected families
Our teen volunteers consistently report that their experience with Friendship Circle has been life-changing, teaching them patience, acceptance, and the true meaning of friendship.
Our Values
Inclusion
We believe every person, regardless of ability, deserves to be valued and included.
Friendship
Genuine connections are at the heart of everything we do.
Empowerment
We help every participant discover their unique strengths and potential.
Community
We build bridges that strengthen our entire community.
Growth
We believe in the power of shared experiences to help everyone grow.
A Circle of Giving
The real beauty of the Friendship Circle is that there are many winners: the children with special needs, their families, the teenage volunteers, the staff members, and the benevolent supporters. All are part of this seamless circle of giving and sharing. We open our hearts and share the blessings of life with one another as we realize that to give, and to do so with love, is the noblest of all endeavors.
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The rewards of your generosity will be readily apparent within the smiles on faces of children and within the relief of the once-pained hearts of parents. You will introduce joy and hope to situations once filled with great sadness and despair.
