The Best Buddies Unified Soccer event, after being postponed for two years, made its return this year on Oct. 29. 

While the usual Wednesdays with Best Buddies include a short period of lunch and conversation, the soccer event scaled up the community-bridging aspect of Best Buddies. The event not only emphasized inclusivity for those with learning differences, but was also enjoyable for everyone involved. 

Best Buddies is an international organization with the aim of “establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” according to its website.

A number of Branson students came out to help lead and brought lots of enthusiasm to the day’s games and activities. 

“As far as I can tell, she looks happy,” said one parent about his kid, who attends a Best Buddies partner school.

Branson’s long history with Best Buddies is rooted in the goal of building connection between neurodivergent and neurotypical people.

“Branson started Best Buddies eight years ago, and started with Cedars of Marin,” said Jennifer Diaz, the head of Best Buddies, “but then I branched out with Oak Hill and Helix school.” 

Audrey Knowles ‘24, a leader of the Best Buddies Club, was heavily involved in the Unified Sports event, and has had years of experience with the program. 

“I started doing the club my freshman year, and I wanted to make friends,” Knowles said. “It turned out to be a big part of my life.”

The partnerships with Cedars of Marin, Oak Hill and Helix School are not only very significant to the students there, but also the Branson students attending the event. 

Simone Incendy, director of student services at The Helix School, talked about the impact the two-hour sports event will have on the kids. The event left the Unified athletes with “incredible memories that they will talk about for a long time,” she said.

The Unified Sports event was created to make students with learning differences feel more included in the Marin community. Portia Pflaum ‘27 was a volunteer at the sports event, and talked about both the event and the Best Buddy program.

“People with learning differences often feel excluded because they don’t act the way neurotypical people act in conversations,” Pflaum said. “Socializing is kind of hard, but sports are a great unifying experience.”

Special Olympics, which the Unified Soccer event is run through, is the world’s largest sports organization for people with intellectual differences. Their mission is to both combat exclusivity and promote active inclusivity. Their slogan highlights what the program is all about: “Jumpstart change and spark joy.”