Torrey Pines students hold ‘best buddy’ party
Not even finished with high school, Lindsay Dale is already an example of how to live a life dedicated to helping others.
On Dec. 6, Dale, a 16-year-old junior at Torrey Pines High School, threw the annual holiday party for the Torrey Pines chapter of Best Buddies at her family’s home.
A nonprofit international organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual and physical disabilities through one-on-one friendships and employment opportunities, Best Buddies, founded in 1989, has more than 1,400 chapters on college, high school, and middle school campuses across the world.
Dale joined the Torrey Pines Best Buddies chapter last year as a sophomore and is now the group’s treasurer.
The holiday-themed party, Dale said, had guests watching movies, swimming, jumping in a “bounce house” set up on the lawn, and singing along with a karaoke machine, all in a festively decorated atmosphere.
An invaluable resource to people with disabilities, Best Buddies has taught Dale some important life lessons.
“It’s really rewarding to hang out with the kids,” said Dale. “They’re so sweet, and have a different way of looking at the world.”
Her involvement in Best Buddies has allowed Dale to see life from a more optimistic perspective.
“You learn to appreciate every moment, and not worry so much,” she said. “Their lives are filled with so many challenges, and they keep a positive attitude.”
Dale’s philanthropy first established roots two years ago when she was just an eighth-grader. She organized a fundraiser for Children’s Hospital-San Diego, raising $1,300.
In fact, San Diego isn’t the only city that has benefited from Dale’s altruism.
In September, Dale created a scholarship and tutoring program for residents of Rexmere Village and Paradise Village, two housing communities in Davie, Florida. Owned by Dale’s parents, Bonnie and Jim Dale, Rexmere Village and Paradise Village have more than 1,200 homes and 5,000 residents.
The scholarship, called the Live Love Learn Scholarship Program, is geared to students ages 7-14, and has already raised $2,000 toward its $10,000 goal.
When she graduates from Torrey Pines, Dale said she plans to start a Best Buddies chapter at college.
“It’s cool to meet all different types of people, and see what they can bring to your life and what you can bring to theirs,” she said.
For more information on Best Buddies, visit www.best
buddies.org.
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