Making a difference in the lives of youth with special needs!

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Volunteer

Friendship Foundation provides social and recreational programs for youth & adults (ages 8+) with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We provide a safe, accepting, and inclusive environment for participants to enjoy sports, art, music, and other social & recreational programs with their peers. Our mission is to teach participants valuable life & social skills, learn & gain independence, and build friendships.

Through the Friendship Foundation volunteer program, remarkable bonds are forged between participants with disabilities and their peers.

In addition to making an impact on a child, volunteers will see changes in themselves, becoming more fulfilled, self-confident, and empowered. Our volunteer program began in 2005 with 22 members. Today, more than 2,000 dedicated individuals participate in this wonderful program. YOU can make a difference!

Ready to join us?

Through Friendship Foundation programs, volunteers are paired with participants in social & recreational activities in a fun, safe, and accepting space.

Using our Sawyer platform below, select a Volunteer Membership and complete the registration forms. We can’t wait for you to join us at the next program!

Our Programs vary from month to month. Please check out our current Program Calendar below!

Link to Calendar

Ready to get started?

1. Using the link below, create a profile on our Sawyer platform (below).

2. Choose a free “Adult" or “Youth" Volunteer Membership and complete the registration forms.

3. Once completed, you'll be able to register for programs. Adult volunteers will need a Livescan fingerprinting background check. We can't wait to have you volunteer with us!

We announce upcoming programs on the following dates each month. For Summer Programs, we have registration in May separated by age group. Be sure to include your email on Sawyer so we can notify you of upcoming programs!

2026

May 7th at 10 AM – Summer Programs Participants Ages 18+

May 7th at 4:30 PM – Summer Programs Participants Ages 8-17

May 12th at 4:30 PM – Summer Programs Volunteers

May 18th at 10 AM – June Programs

June 22th at 10 AM – July Programs

July 20th at 10 AM – August Programs

August 24th at 10 AM – September Programs

September 14th at 10 AM – October Programs

October 26th at 10 AM – November Programs

We have launched our new program registration software, Sawyer. We have switched from Dash to Sawyer to provide a simpler, quicker, and more user-friendly experience when registering for Friendship Foundation programs.

Starting April 20th, 2026, all families- new and returning- will need to create a profile on Sawyer in order to sign up for summer programs.

Participants can get started by creating a Sawyer account in the “Program Schedule" tab.

If you are registering for yourself, enter your own contact information.

If you are a parent setting up an account to sign up participant(s), input your information first as the “Client”.

Step-by-Step Guide for Participants

Sawyer's platform has slightly different language than our prior platform, Dash, to describe activities. Use this glossary as a guide for navigating the platform!
Client– The primary account that can have multiple Adult and/or Child profiles attached to it.
Child– An account profile for Children (under the age of 18) created under the primary Client account profile.
Participant– Anyone (Client, Adult, or Child) that is being registered for an activity.
Sessions– This tab will include all our monthly programs and activities.
Camps– Our Summer Programs are listed in this tab (Friendship Camp, Beach Camp, and Ocean & Surf Therapy). These are only visible between May-August.
Memberships– Volunteers will need start here and get a free “Adult” or “Youth” Membership in order to register for volunteer programs.

I already have a DASH account. Do I also need to create a Sawyer account? Yes- your DASH account does not transfer over to Sawyer. Please create a new account, as we will no longer be using the DASH platform for registration starting with May 2026 programs.
What name do I put for “Client,” me or my child? Any parent/guardian creating the account is the client. You will be prompted to add a child/adult to your account when you go to add an item to your cart.
Will I still get email reminders about programs? Yes, we will continue to send out emails with all of the important program information. Emails will be sent out 24 hours prior to the program.
Where can I see what programs I registered for? Sawyer sends out email confirmations for every order placed. You can also view your calendar by visiting www.hisawyer.com/account/calendar and logging in to your Sawyer account.
I keep seeing other camps and programs that are not from the Friendship Foundation. Where do I find Friendship Foundation programs? Please use the Sawyer widget on our website at friendshipfoundation.com. This will be the one and only place you can find our programs.
Can I store my credit card on file for a quicker checkout? Yes, you can save and/or update your payment information once you create a Sawyer account. Please visit your profile settings or update them when checking out for a program.
My child is a volunteer. How do I get them registered for programs? After creating your account, please sign your volunteer up for a free Volunteer Membership. Please choose either “Adult” or “Youth” Volunteer Membership based on the volunteer’s age. Volunteers will need a Membership in order to register for programs. Volunteer programs are marked as “Members-Only” on Sawyer to distinguish them from our fee-based participant programs.
I am an adult volunteer. Can I volunteer immediately? We require all new adult volunteers (ages 18+) to complete a background check via Livescan fingerprinting before attending our programs. Friendship Foundation will reimburse up to $25 in fees with proof of receipt. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Sasha, Volunteer

"I started volunteering at my school's Friendship Club. I enjoyed hanging out with the kids so much that I decided to volunteer at programs outside of school. The kids are always so happy and I love being around them!"

Vaidehi, Volunteer

"I began volunteering at the Friendship Foundation around seven years ago. I’ve gotten to know so many of the kids and having the opportunity to hang out with them during camp each summer is so refreshing. Being away during the school year is draining, but whenever I’m in the South Bay and get to see my friends, I feel at home."

Programs Designed For Volunteers

We love seeing our young volunteers excel which is why we created programs specially designed for volunteers that encourage growth and leadership. We provide useful tools, skills, and information about working with the special needs population so our volunteers feel confident and prepared when they show up to their first program. Our volunteers are an integral part of our model and it is with their dedication that we are able to accomplish so much.

Evening of Recognition 2025

Volunteer Recognition

Each May, we host an awards ceremony called Evening of Recognition where volunteers are celebrated for their time spent with the Friendship Foundation. Besides the awards listed below, we also give special recognition to outstanding Friendship School Clubs and recognize the leaders of the clubs. Volunteers are a gift to our program and we are grateful for their generosity.

Commitment to Excellence Award

Awarded to a deeply committed volunteer who demonstrates a dedication to their experience with the Friendship Foundation, which in turn contributes to the vibrancy of the entire communnity.

Volunteer of the Year Award

This award recognizes an outstanding volunteer whose unselfish and dedicated service to the Friendship Foundation has made a significance difference and mirrors the commitment to success that the Friendship Foundation carries.

Community Impact Award

This award recognizes volunteers that are positively impacting their communites in ways that inspire integrity and carry the Friendship Foundation mission along with them.

Exceptional Service Award

This volunteer recipient has made a significant impact on the Friendship Foundation and its particpants through programs, outstanding dedication, extraordinary competence, ingenuity, and making a difference in the lives of our students.

Friend of the Year Award

This award recognizes an outstanding volunteer's service, dedication, and commitment to upholding the values of friendship.

Program Innovator Award

This volunteer has gone above and beyond to have a major and measurable impact on the participants of the Friendship Foundation. These individuals have created, facilitated, and carried out programs through the Friendship Foundation for participants.