Friendship Circle of Orange County

Happy Birthday David Veksler!! May the 4th be with you!!

Happy Birthday Jessica Bouman!Happy Birthday Jessica Bouman!

Wishing the Happiest 70th Birthday to Friendship Circle's #1 friend - JoAnn Krupp!!! JoAnn is a true visionary! Through her tireless efforts over the last 15 years, she has helped change the face of special needs in Orange County. She continues to impact thousands of children with special needs through Friendship Circle's transformative programing and activities and she inspires countless volunteers to befriend a special child. We wish her many more years of good health and happiness and look forward to many more years of her extraordinary leadership.

Bring your whole family for a fun outdoor carnival! * ENJOY TREATS * PLAY GAMES CREATE ART * SEE FRIENDS WIN PRIZES!... RSVP BY WEDNESDAY, MAY 19TH AND LET US KNOW HOW MANY WILL BE ATTENDING to [email protected] *Note: This is not a drop-off event.

Happy Birthday Aubree Semmelman and Valerie Tu!!!

Happy Birthday Brynn Hansen and Hannah Hart!!

Happy Birthday Zach Agranovich!!!

Happy Birthday Oren Penn!!

Happy Birthday Noelle Higgins!!

Happy Birthday Shira Blieden!!!

Happy Birthday to our awesome Family Coordinator Lisa Bogart!!! Thank you for everything you do for our special buddies!!!

We love all our teen volunteers! They are truly an inspiration. Each quarter we select two outstanding volunteers as Teens of the Quarter. We are happy to announce that we have selected Madi Linnen and Matthew Durrant. Here is a little about each one:... Madi Linnen is a senior at Edison High School who learned about Friendship Circle from her college counselor. Prior to Covid, she attended nearly all of our programs, including our Sunday programs and camp, and she proved to be an awesome buddy to any child or teen with special needs that we paired her with. When the pandemic hit, she stepped in to remain in touch with several buddies, including Ashley A and Jessica B, who look forward to regular calls from her. According to Madi, her buddies have become not just friends but role models for her. "This program has taught me the importance of friendship especially in times like this where we are unable to congregate in public." Matthew Durrant joined Friendship Circle when, as a 7th grader, he was looking to volunteer for an organization that would positively impact people’s lives. A friend told him about Friendship Circle and, at his first Basketball Buddies he was drawn to the beautiful friendship and respect shown to each other by the volunteers and their buddies! Matthew soon stepped up to be an assistant coach and then head coach for Soccer Stars. According to Matthew, "I am so grateful to Friendship Circle for the wonderful friends that I have made there and allowing me to feel like I am making a difference." As a 7th grader, I was looking for ways to volunteer and wanted to find an organization that would positively impact people’s lives. A friend told me about Friendship Circle and I nervously went to Basketball Buddies. I immediately felt a sense of comfort, belonging and happiness. I saw the teens playing basketball with their buddies. I saw smiling faces and heard shouts of encouragement. Most of all, I saw the beautiful friendship and respect shown to each other by the volunteers and their buddies! I knew then that I wanted to be part of this group of kind and caring people. As a soccer player, I was excited to coach Soccer Stars. I choose specific drills and activities that I think the participants would enjoy most and make sure that we have enough volunteers to support our players. Friendship Circle has given me so many opportunities to meet amazing new people and learn about the amazing special needs community in Orange County. I am so grateful to have been selected as Teen of the Quarter, but it doesn’t really go to me. It goes to the amazing team at Friendship Circle and the wonderful friends that I have made there, that have allowed me to be part of such a special program and really feel like I am making a difference."

Happy Birthday Victor Shafiee!!!

Sunday, December 6th, 10:30 to noon Our last Virtual Sunday Circle this Sunday will be Miss Kelly's Tangerine Tales with interactive storytelling, puppet friends and imagination quest. Parents - Please have on hand for a scavenger hunt:... 2 socks (1 pair) 1 hat (any kind) 1 pair shoes or boots 3 pieces of white paper 1 carrot OR celery stick OR cucumber 1 scarf 2 buttons or grapes or lego pieces (round shape) 1 spoon 1 small pot or bowl (nothing breakable) These items should be in their usual places at home. Check your email for login information. Email [email protected] for more information.

This Sunday: Virtual Sunday Circle 10:30 to noon, October 25th Learn balloon artistry from an expert! Order Qualtex balloons and a pump from Amazon.com and learn how to make your own balloon creations.... Check your email or email [email protected] for zoom info

Bring some cheer to a deserving child in need Friendship Circle is distributing and delivering hundreds of gifts to the underprivileged and children with special needs, making these deserving children’s holiday that much brighter. If you would like to be a part of this incredible project, please drop off an unwrapped gift in our lobby (2240 University Dr., Newport Beach) any time prior to December 13th or donate to the gift drive by clicking here: ... FriendshipOC.org/donate Volunteers needed - If you are able to assist with these special deliveries, please email [email protected]

Yes, there is a Virtual Sunday Circle this morning, November 29. Join us for a bubble show! Email [email protected] for more info.

TODAY, 10:30 am to Noon VIRTUAL SUNDAY CIRCLE!! Join us this Sunday, October 18th, 10:30 - noon, for a Virtual Sunday Circle. ... Planned activities include: Icebreakers Dancing Name Game Arts & Crafts Games and MORE!! You'll need: Crayons Pens Colored pencils Markers Paper Scissors Check your email for ZOOM login information. For more information, email [email protected].

This Sunday, November 22nd, 10:30 to noon! "ZOOM" ba with your friends from Friendship Circle. Email Lisa@FriendshipOC for more information. Check your email for ZOOM login info.

Happy Birthday Jared Maister!!

"Cool Delivery at the Friendship Circle Center today as our construction nears completion This morning they delivered and installed 13 air conditioning units, 65 tons of cool air, via a 300 ton crane. We thank our general contractor, the great team at Bergman KPRS and Mr. Crane for the timely delivery. The magnificent new Center for Special Needs will feature fully-equipped, state-of-art, educational, recreational, occupational and therapeutic facilities including a Snoe...zelen Room, an advanced therapeutic facility used to treat a wide variety of developmental disabilities an art studio for our educational arts programs, instructional kitchen for our culinary arts programs, resource library, game rooms, classrooms and meeting rooms; the new Center will allow for the launching of many new and innovative training and programs. It will enrich the quality of life for the special needs community in a home they can truly call their own. See more

Happy Birthday Sophia Newman!!

Happy Birthday Matt Singer and Jacob Eliot!!

Happy Birthday Bailey Allen!!

Fairytales don’t get more beautiful than this!

Awesome, super impactful "Day in the life of..." Teen Kick Off and Training - with all safety precautions and screening: outdoors, temperatures taken, hand sanitizing at each station, socially distant with masks. So happy to see each other again in person! Teens learned so much about what our special buddies go through daily. They are ready to take it on! Sushi and rolled ice cream was an extra bonus!

Amazing! Let’s all push to be the best version of ourselves! A true athlete!

Happy Birthday to our awesome Art Therapist Lisa Albert!! Wishing you an amazing year ahead! We really appreciate you!!

This Sunday, November 15th! The Art of Thanks and Giving. Make postcards of thanks to the people we love. Bring scissors, recycled paper, brown paper bags, magazines, markers, paint, colored pencils and glue.... Email [email protected] for more information. Check your email for Zoom login info.