Chabad’s Friendship Circle matches teen volunteers with children who have special needs, and their time together benefits everyone involved. Children of all faiths who must cope with autism or other disabilities look forward to frequent visits from kind, caring peers -- and the volunteers feel the joy of befriending someone less fortunate.

The Friendship Circle program began in 1994, and there are now almost 60 chapters across America -- including a dozen in California. Nationwide, more than 10,000 volunteers and families are participating, plans are in the works to expand the program further.

The Friendship Circle is committed to serving all members of the community regardless of religious affiliation. In addition to helping those in need, the Circle empowers and enriches its network of volunteers, the majority of whom are teenagers, by enabling them to reap the vast rewards of giving of themselves.

The Friendship Circle consists of five parts -- volunteers, children, parents, staff, and supporters. The true beauty of the Circle is how all of the elements link together to form a seamless community of friendship. Just as a circle has neither end nor beginning, our community offers promise, hope and love that have no bounds. Who can say who benefits most from the program -- the child with special needs who learns how to ride a bicycle, or her parents who get a much needed break, or the volunteer whose spirit soars to new heights?

The Friendship Circle is committed to serving all members ofthe community regardless of religious affiliation.

• In 1995, the Lubavitcher Rebbe was awarded the Congressional gold Medal, an honor bestowed to only 100 Americans since Thomas Jefferson, for “outstanding and lasting contributions toward improvements in world education, morality, and acts of charity.”

• Around the globe, more than 4,600 of the Rebbe’s emissaries and a workforce of over 20,000 continue his mission to create a world of goodness, kindness and G-dliness.