Let’s change the world for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)
April 13, 2024
10:30 AM | Hamilton, OH
The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading event in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and you can join us in HAMILTON on April 13that Marcum Park!
Join 50,000 participants at 70+ Walks across the globe to support the Best Buddies programs in schools, workplaces, and communities. You’ll be making the world more welcoming to people with IDD — one friendship, one job, and one life-changing connection at a time.
Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living and family support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Who We Serve
The IDD community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to, people and families with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities.
Programs
Best Buddies is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower the special abilities of people and families with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society.
Joshua Sust knew he needed to make a big life change when he found himself getting into the wrong crowd in high school. Motivated to serve his country after the 9/11 attacks, Josh enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantryman in hopes to better his future and make a difference.
On November 12, 2011, during his deployment to Musa Quala, Afghanistan with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, Cpl Sust was on patrol when his vehicle drove over a pressure plate improvised explosive device (IED). The blast ejected Josh out of the vehicle, resulting in severe damage to his left leg, left arm, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and hearing loss.
For over three years, doctors attempted limb salvage on his left leg. During that time, Josh endured constant pain and a decreased quality of life. In August 2015, he made the life-changing decision to have an amputation below his left knee.
Joshua Sust (Provided Photo – HFOT)
Now medically retired, Joshua enjoys spending his days hunting and fishing. His time outdoors is a form of therapy and builds camaraderie with his friends. A huge Bengals football fan, he likes attending games whenever he can. He also motivates others with similar injuries as a member of the Amputee Coalition peer support effort.
Cpl Sust was on patrol when his vehicle drove over a pressure plate improvised explosive device (IED). (Provided photo by Joshua Sust)
Joshua posted the above photo on his FaceBook page this last November 12 and said:
Confucius once said “ You have two lives.
The second one begins when you realize
you only have one.”
For me that realization was 9 years ago
today. Also known as my Big Bang.
A lot has happened since then.
My biggest take away has just been to
grow as a person. Try to show with
action no matter who we are, where
we come from or what happened to us
does not define who we are.
The greatest gift we have is time.
Eventually it’s going to run out for all of
us. When it does I just want to be
remembered as a good person.
Enjoy this life, it’s the only one we
have to live.
Joshua will soon receive the freedom he describes in the video above when he moves into his new home on Zoar Road in Maineville. The digs are being custom-built for him by Homes For Our Troops (HFOT). The home is being built by Michalson Homes of Milford.
“What that means to me is freedom of movement. I no longer have to think about my next step or if I can use a wheelchair,” said Joshua “At my current home I have to either wear my prosthesis or use crutches because the doorways and hallways are not wide enough.”
Joshua’s home will be a handicap accessible home. Meaning the doorways are wider, grab bars in the shower, a roll-in shower in the master bedroom, and, hardwood floors on a single slab.
Provided Photo – HFOT
Joshua says that receiving a Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) home will be a game-changer. He is friends with several HFOT Veterans and has been inspired by their journey. He has witnessed the difference a specially adapted custom Homes For Our Troops home has made in their lives. In his current home, Joshua often gets discouraged because he cannot use a wheelchair and is forced to use a crutch for everything, including going downstairs to do laundry. With freedom and independence, the home will provide him, he will have more time and energy to host Amputee Coalition Peer Support groups in his home. Originally from Cincinnati, Joshua is choosing to remain in Ohio to be close to family and friends.
“The neighborhood I will move into can be summed up with being peaceful,” said Joshua. “I am currently in Colerain. I am an avid hunter and fisherman. The idea for moving near Loveland was country living with peace and quiet that I do not currently have.” He does not have a move-in date currently, but he said he is just amazed at the progress that has been completed since September.
The paying it forward motto of Joshua’s is, “I just do that as much as I can either financially or just helping people out. I’ve been blessed with a lot in life and it would be very selfish of me to just take and not give back as much as I can” He said that he is just trying to be a good human.
Recent progress on Joshua’s new home (Provided Photo – HFOT)
HFOT will be holding the community kick off on January 9th at the Loveland VFW.
There will also be a volunteer day where people in the community come and help with landscaping and laying sod. Joshua has been told that it might have to be after the “key ceremony” due to Covid 19 restrictions.
“The most important part I’m looking forward to is having my family over for the holidays. Or cookouts in the summer. I just want to share this amazing blessing with the ones I love,” said Joshua.
Joshua feels grateful to receive a specially adapted custom home and said about Homes For Our Troops, “First and foremost thank you all for this amazing life-changing gift. Without your donations, none of this would be possible. I will not take this for granted and will pay it forward every way I can. You gave me freedom and independence. It is men and women like you that make this country so great.”
Magnified Giving, a local nonprofit whose mission is to educate, inspire and engage students in life-long philanthropy, announced the promotion of its Program Coordinator to Director of Programs. Alison Kaufman joined the organization July 15, 2017 to support Magnified Giving’s successful history of growth. She assumed the role of Director of Programs September 24th, 2018.
“The programs of Magnified Giving are the mission. That is where the work happens.” stated Roger Grein, Founder. “It has been a wonderful journey to watch it grow in community support and youth engagement.” Now, as we celebrate the end of our 10th year (2017-2018), it is exciting to elevate our Coordinator to the Director position.” The original Director role was held by Mr. Todd Forman for the first ten years. Forman helped create the process and program of youth philanthropy while also directing community service efforts and the Youth Philanthropy Council at Mount Notre Dame High School. Todd is currently the full time Community Service Director at MND and serving as a consultant to Magnified Giving for technology. “Alison has wonderful qualities that will strengthen our mission moving forward, as we expand the number of schools and students we empower and grow this important mission of youth philanthropy, she enjoys working with teachers and helping them empower their students” says founder Roger Grein.
Kaufman also assists the implementation the student philanthropy program in Milford High School where her triplets attend as freshman.
Kaufman’s nonprofit leadership skills were most recently applied in her role as Program Manager at InReturn, whose mission is to serve clients suffering from a traumatic brain injury. While being interviewed by Magnified Giving students for a grant, she began to appreciate the mission of empowering young people to learn about the needs of others and give of their time, talent and treasure. She so enjoyed her experience of winning the grant for the nonprofit from the school students through Magnified Giving, she joined the growing Magnified Giving team in July 2017. Kaufman also assists the implementation the student philanthropy program in Milford High School where her triplets attend as freshman. In her new expanded role as Director of Programs at Magnified Giving, Kaufman leads the organizations mission by supporting the schools superintendents, principals and teachers to empower, engage and inspire their participating students to be young and active philanthropists.
She will also manage the new summer camps of Camp Give and the new financial literacy curriculum of Earn, Save, Live, Give and produce 10 grant award ceremonies celebrating the students and winning charities in Spring 2019.
We inspire young people to understand how our community works, serve people in need and how to be their best while using their own gifts and talents.
Alison Kaufman, a native Cincinnatian, is excited to reengage with the local community by sharing Magnified Giving’s mission.“What inspires me is the opportunity to bring more students together with local charities that need the volunteerism, exposure and financial support. We inspire young people to understand how our community works, serve people in need and how to be their best while using their own gifts and talents. It is truly special work.” says Kaufman. Kaufman and her husband Mike live with their four children in Milford, Ohio.
The promotion of the role of Director of Programs comes at a time when Magnified Giving is expanding and adding school programs and expanding Camp Give summer camp offerings. Donors provide generous gifts to empower teens to award as grants to vetted charities in need of financial and volunteer support. This education challenges the participating teens to realize their full potential, to use their talents to make our community stronger, understand the needs and apply their knowledge and passion toward the goal of strengthening and serving others. There are many benefits to young students learning these skills while in school in a formal class or club.
The nonprofit organization has awarded nearly three quarters of a million dollars through student-awarded grants to local charities.
Originally based in Lockland since the beginning in 2008, the now Evendale-based nonprofit organization has awarded nearly three quarters of a million dollars through student-awarded grants to local charities; and has grown to include 95 schools with more than 4000 students involved in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, with several schools in Dayton, Indianapolis, Akron and Cleveland communities. In the past ten years, over 350 charities have experienced the Magnified Giving program and have realized additional success as a result of the partnership.
Founded by philanthropist Roger Grein, Magnified Giving educates, inspires and engages young students in philanthropy through their schools. The vision of Magnified Giving is for every high school student in America, beginning in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, to someday have an opportunity to learn firsthand how to be generous and wise philanthropists through hands-on experience. Participating school groups are challenged to determine how they want to invest more than $1,000 in a nonprofit.
Accounting Plus–Bingaman Accounting and Tax Service, LLC is a tax preparation, payroll and bookkeeping company locally based in Loveland, OH.
April 13, 2024
