Posts Tagged ‘Audi’
WYLIE BRINGS PASSION, AWARENESS–AND THE STARS–TO BEST BUDDIES
Though he may be most widely recognized for his stint on season three of The Biggest Loser, Mark Wylie’s lengthiest gig is that as the first–and most tenured–employee of Best Buddies, a Miami-based nonprofit that builds friendships and integrated employment opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities. As Vice President of Talent Relations, Wylie’s enthusiasm, compassion, and special knack for connecting with celebs have him propelling Best Buddies into the spotlight–right where it belongs.
Wylie with Best Buddies supporter Vanessa Hudgens
We first caught wind of the organization when media pal Ken Langdon of Las Vegas’ Heat Communications emailed us last December saying that a Best Buddies chapter had opened its doors in town, fueled by a $1 million donation. The monster sum would allow the chapter to operate all six of the Best Buddies formal programs, which include Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies, and Jobs. Founded by Anthony Shriver, son of some serious humanitarian stock, (mom Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics and dad Sargent Shriver was one of the original founders of the Peace Corps), Best Buddies was born out of the desire to recognize, include, and celebrate those with intellectual disabilities by providing friendship as a solution to loneliness and isolation. The group which celebrates is 20th anniversary this year, is a passionate, vibrant, and ground-breaking entity…as is Wylie himself.
HB: How and when did you originally become involved with Best Buddies?
MW: After college I moved to D.C.; Anthony Shriver and I had been friends, and he was starting up Best Buddies at Georgetown. I’m really blessed in that I just kind of fell into working for it. I started as a volunteer, and eventually became the first actual employee.
HB: What makes Best Buddies so special for you…personally?
MW: Growing up I was always the odd kid out, always on the outside looking in. I was overweight and had self-esteem issues. For people with intellectual disabilities it’s very similar. They’re often shut in at home; they may have caretakers or parents, but their only friend may be the TV. So being part of Best Buddies is my way of saying hey, this shouldn’t be. It gives me the opportunity to kind of heal the wounds and pay it forward. It absolutely changed my life. And I want to share that. People with intellectual disabilities can teach us so much. We need to see their beauty–not shun them for their differences.
HB: The Middle School and High School programs really stand out to me…it’s a time when kids can experience a lot of mistreatment by peers.
MW: Exactly. And these programs give students a chance to really run the whole show at their school. It’s like they get to become the CEO of a company. And they’re the future–the ones who need to get in there and plant the seeds, do the fertilizing, and really build something for the generations to come.
Tom Brady and Best Buddies founder Anthony Shriver next to the Best Buddies Audi RS4 Friendship car. (Who's taller?!)
