Friendship Club is actively engaged in over 70 schools within 22+ school districts throughout the South Bay and Los Angeles area, Central California, Arizona, and Georgia. Friendship Club is a student-driven, teacher-led school inclusion program focusing on the development of organic friendships between students with disabilities and their neurotypical peers. Our program is designed to teach students how to harness the power of friendship through social-emotional wellness activities, art, science, physical fitness, and social skills enrichment. When students are making meaningful connections with peers, they are not only learning to build greater peer acceptance in the classroom, but they are also fostering a greater understanding of each other with a sense of safety and well-being on each school campus.

Our Purpose

The Friendship Club inclusion program is designed to empower students of all abilities to positively impact the lives of their peers through our one-to-one buddy system model. Student(s) with special needs are paired with their general education peers and work together to play board games, make neat art projects, play music instruments, and participate in fitness exercises. These fun and interactive activities bridge awareness for students in special education who often feel isolated and left out of school activities. We believe that when students have a greater sense of belonging, they feel confident about their abilities and have the courage to make a difference in society.

How Friendship Club Started

Friendship Foundation opened its doors over 18 years ago and started with a monthly “Sunday Circle" program for 8 children with special needs and 22 teen volunteers. Soon thereafter, our teen volunteers asked if they could open a school club on their campus to increase peer interaction with students in special education. We loved the idea and established our first Friendship Club at Mira Costa High School, Palos Verdes High School and Redondo Union High School. Today, Friendship Club continues to build bridges within the South Bay community by inspiring high school students to form collaborative partnerships with their neighborhood elementary school's Special Day Class programs.

Get Involved

Our Schools

Centinela Valley Union High School

Hawthorne High

Lawndale High

Leuzinger High

Charter Schools

Century Community Charter

Clayton County School District (Jonesboro, GA)

Jonesboro High

Lovejoy High

Mount Zion High

Rex Mill Middle

El Segundo Unified School District

Center Street Elementary

El Segundo High

El Segundo Middle

Gilbert Unified School District

Mesquite Elementary (Gilbert, AZ)

Hawthorne Unified School District

Bud Carson Middle

Prairie Vista Middle

Ramona Elementary

York Elementary

Zela Davis Elementary

Hermosa Unified School District

Hermosa Valley Middle

Hermosa View Elementary

Hermosa Vista Elementary

Kern County High School District

Liberty High (Bakersfield, CA)

Lake Elsinore Unified School District

Ronald Reagan Elementary

Lawndale Elementary School District

Jane Addams Middle

Will Rogers Middle

Lennox School District

Felton Elementary

Lennox Middle

Long Beach Unified School District

Cleveland Elementary

Jefferson Leadership Academy

Lowell Elementary

Los Angeles Unified School District

Academy of Medical Arts, Carson High

Humanities & Arts Academy (HArts)

Manhattan Beach School District

Grandview Elementary

Manhattan Beach Middle

Mira Costa High

Pacific Elementary

Meadows Elementary

Robinson Elementary

Newark Unified School District

Newark Memorial High (Newark, CA)

Palos Verdes School District

Cornerstone School at Pedregal

Dapplegray Elementary

Mira Catalina Elementary

Miraleste Intermediate

Palos Verdes High

Palos Verdes Intermediate

Palos Verdes Peninsula High

Point Vicente Elementary

Rancho Vista Elementary

Vista Grande Elementary

Private Schools

Chadwick High (Palos Verdes)

Rolling Hills Prep REACH (Palos Verdes)

St. John Bosco High (Bellflower)

Redondo Beach Unified School District

Adams Middle

Beryl Elementary

Lincoln Elementary

Parras Middle

Redondo Union High

Thomas County School District

Thomas County Central High (Thomasville, GA)

Torrance Unified School District

Anza Elementary

Arnold Elementary

Bert Lynn Middle

Calle Mayor Middle

Edison Elementary

Fern Elementary

Hickory Elementary

Hull Middle

Jefferson Middle

John Adams Elementary

Lincoln Elementary

Madrona Middle

Magruder Middle

Riviera Elementary

Seaside Elementary

Torrance Elementary

Towers Elementary

Victor Elementary

Walteria Elementary

West Torrance High

Wood Elementary

Victor Elementary

Yukon Elementary

Waco Union High School District

Wasco Union High

Wiseburn School District

Aviation Elementary

Hollyglen Elementary

Wiseburn Middle

Da Vinci Communications High

Da Vinci Connect TK-8

Da Vinci Connect High

Interactive Map of our Active School Clubs

Quick Facts

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Students Involved

We're in the News!

Check out our latest press releases about expanding our inclusive Friendship Clubs!

$1 Million Grant to Expand Friendship Clubs

Testimonials

Victor Elementary School

Teresa Vuong, School Counselor & Rebecca San Roman, SDC Teacher

For the past few years, Victor Elementary School has had the privilege and support from the Friendship Foundation to make our special needs buddy club, Making Waves, possible on our school campus. The Friendship Foundation has provided us with crafts supplies so students can decorate their own pumpkins and frost cookies on their favorite holidays. Students also look forward to their monthly pizza party where they get to share a meal together, socialize with their peers and play board games. One of their favorite activities is making crafts projects with volunteers from West High School’s Friendship Club and ending their club meeting with a sweet treat! Thank you Friendship Foundation for helping us Make Waves at Victor Elementary School!

Jane Addams Middle School

Steven McCann, School Counselor & David Navarro, ELA Teacher

During the 7 years of hosting Friendship Club at Jane Addams Middle School, we have not ceased to be amazed at the rich blessings that come from our club. We see the positive impact on our school culture in larger scale school gatherings, in addition to the one-on-one interactions between buddies. We have witnessed a type of selflessness, caring and empathetic culture at JAMS that we have not seen anywhere else on our campus! Friendship Club not only creates genuine friendships between peers but also develops leadership skills at the middle school level. One of the most recent and impactful project from our students included a school-wide effort to put together over 1,000 care kits for the homeless on Skid Row and raising funds to purchase goats for an African Village. For these reasons, the program belongs to our students and continues to exist at JAMS

Leuzinger High School

Noah Kaiser, District APE Teacher & Bethany A., Club President

Every great team needs an even more amazing coach and that is exactly what describes Mr. Kaiser's role at Leuzinger High School's Friendship Club. Thanks to Mr. Kaiser, we have been exposed to greater opportunities that have really helped to build the bond between all members of Friendship Club. We've had pizza parties, bubble shows and planned field trips to enrich the friendships between general education and special education students. As part of our weekly club meetings, we are brought together simply to make friends and enjoy each others company. Mr. Kaiser knew how to make everyone feel safe and accepted. He did just that by opening up the school gym so our club members could have exclusive time to bond by playing various team sports and team building activities. Although our school year was cut short, we have remained strong thanks to Mr. Kaiser's support for his students.

Da Vinci High School

Anne Tittle, Speech & Language Pathologist & Kaiya A., Club President

"Friendship Club at Da Vinci High School was one of my favorite things to be a part of this year. Every Friday was a great experience with my peers and with Ms. Tittle’s support we have been able to make our lunch time meetings a fun place. I loved seeing the smiles on my friends faces when we would make friendship bracelets or watch movies. I encourage everyone to join Friendship Club because it is an amazing experience for all students".

West Torrance High School

Shelly Thompson, GeoScience Teacher & Viraj A., Club President

For as long as I have been a leader in my community, I have always been a strong advocate for Disability Rights and Special Education funding within our schools. I have actively voiced my concerns with numerous local and legislative officials, the Torrance school board and the Youth City Council about how they can improved services for students with special needs and adults. My motivation to continually fight for these beliefs comes from none other than the Friendship Foundation. For me, being able to truly impact these students' lives gives me no greater joy in this world. It means so much to me that the Friendship Foundation not only provides amazing programs but also has 30 other Friendship Clubs in schools within the Los Angeles area. This year, as the Friendship Club president, I plan to work collaboratively with our teachers to host various virtual activities with the guidance of the Friendship Foundation. I am thankful for the many ways that the Friendship Foundation has transformed me into the person I am today and am excited to continue serving students with special needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I join an active Friendship Club?

To join a Friendship Club at your school, please contact your school principal for information about meeting date and location. If you need more information and cannot locate your school's Friendship Club, please email Dené at dene@friendshipfoundation.com for assistance.

How do I start a Friendship Club at my school?

Please click here to complete an Inquiry Form so we can learn a little more about your school.

Is Friendship Club offered at all school levels?

Yes, Friendship Club operates at elementary, middle, and high school levels. Students have the opportunity to continue participating in Friendship Club as they transition to other schools within their school district.

Is volunteer training offered to club members?

Volunteer training for all Friendship Foundation programs is mandatory and is offered to all volunteers throughout the school year. We provide workshops that will help students to interact effectively with their buddies and learn why inclusion and acceptance is important for their community. Our teachers will offer support in the classroom and guide students through their club activities. Please visit our volunteer page for more information on how you can get involved.

Are there opportunities for club members to volunteer with the Friendship Foundation?

Many of our volunteers who are members of their school’s Friendship Club have also participated in our community programs. Building friendships in schools has inspired students to stay connected with their peers, improve leadership skills, and expand their social network. For many of our high school club members, leadership opportunities are a great way to gain experience for college. Our annual SKECHERS Pier-to-Pier Friendship Walk is an awe-inspiring event that brings together friends and family for a day filled with fun and entertainment. Middle school and high school students are invited to apply for the SKECHERS Teen Advisory Board (T.A.B.) committee for a chance to promote their school and raise awareness for children with special needs and education. Volunteer opportunities are available to children ages 8-17 and to young adults age 18+. Please visit our volunteer page to get involved.