Introducing the Inaugural Seneca Valley Best Buddies Walk with Dr. Kathy Mahon and Seneca Valley fourth grader, Miss Lucy Martsolf

Bring your friends and family and join us for the Inaugural Seneca Valley Best Buddies Walk. This milestone event takes place on June 1, at North Boundary Park and celebrates inclusion and the diverse abilities of individuals, providing a wonderful opportunity to support fundraising efforts for Best Buddies International. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE WILL REVIEW

• Overview of the new Best Buddies chapter at Haine Elementary School
• Volunteering with Best Buddies
• Details about the upcoming Seneca Valley Best Buddies Walk
• Mission of the Best Buddies Walk
• How to register for the Best Buddies Walk, scheduled for Saturday, June 1
  • Seneca Valley Best Buddies Walk (runsignup.com)

SPECIAL GUEST
Dr. Kathy Mahon, School Psychologist and Miss Lucy Martsolf, Seneca Valley fourth grader at Haine Elementary School

Dr. Kathy Mahon is in her 23rd year as a school psychologist with Seneca Valley. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Mercyhurst University, Master of Education and Specialist Certification in School Psychology from Edinboro University, and Doctor of Education in School Psychology with a neuropsychology specialty from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is also the lead advisor for the Best Buddies chapter at Haine Elementary. 

Miss Lucy Martsolf is a 10-year-old student at Haine Elementary who has been active in the special needs community from a young age. She has volunteered at numerous sensory events through the nonprofit her mother started in honor of her sister in 2016. She has an older sister with autism who she loves very much. They are “best buddies.” Miss Martsolf has demonstrated courage to help individuals who learn differently and respect for those who demonstrate a need for a helping hand. 

Transcript

FULL TRANSCRIPT (with timecode)

 00:00:02:26 - 00:00:22:25
Jeff Krakoff: Welcome to Voices, a national award-winning podcast brought to you by the Seneca Valley School District. This is Jeff Krakoff. Today we have two guests. Doctor Kathy Mahon, chool psychologist at Haine Elementary, and we're joined by fourth grader Lucy Martsolf. Thanks for joining us today. 

 00:00:23:06 - 00:00:24:12
Kathy Mahon: Thanks for having us. 

 00:00:24:20 - 00:00:40:14
Jeff Krakoff: All right. So I just became aware that Haine Elementary launched a chapter of Best Buddies this year. Um, Kathy, could you tell us a little bit about what Best Buddies is and when what happens specifically at Haine? 

 00:00:40:26 - 00:01:10:26
Kathy Mahon: Sure. Um, Best Buddies is an international nonprofit, and its mission is to create opportunities for 1 to 1 friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individual individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. So at the elementary level, uh, Best Buddies is really about promoting inclusion and friendship among young students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

 00:01:11:05 - 00:01:23:18
Jeff Krakoff: So now that we know what it's all about, tell us specifically what's happening at Haine Elementary for Best Buddies, what kinds of activities have already taken place? What's going to be coming down the road? 

 00:01:24:05 - 00:02:19:18
Kathy Mahon: Sure. So, this year, um, this is our first year doing Best Buddies. And so, we decided to start small. And we do plan to, to grow it, you know, moving forward. Um, we did three activities this year. We had a fall, winter and spring activity. Um, our fall activity included, the kids painted pumpkins, and then they were able to take them home to enjoy. In the winter we had two giant cardboard gingerbread houses, and they colored them, and after that they were able to keep them in the classrooms for the students to enjoy. And then recently, our spring activity included painting rocks for our brand-new Best Buddies rock garden. So, they turned out great. And the Best buddies rock garden is actually located at the entrance of Haine Elementary, right to the left of the entrance when you come in. Um, and the kids really seemed to enjoy the activities. 

 00:02:20:03 - 00:02:31:12
Jeff Krakoff: Very good. So, Lucy, you're volunteering your time to be a buddy for the Best Buddies program at Haine Elementary. Tell me what you like about it. What does it mean to you? 

 00:02:31:24 - 00:02:41:10
Lucy Martsolf: Having a friend at home, school and everywhere someone goes. I always hope that my sister will have a best buddy somewhere, whether it's me or a friend that accepts her. 

 00:02:41:27 - 00:02:46:06
Jeff Krakoff: That's awesome. So, what are some of the things you do when you volunteer? 

 00:02:46:24 - 00:03:09:14
Lucy Martsolf: My mom runs a nonprofit that helps kids with disabilities like my sister and friends. We have events like Sensory Center, the Sensory Center Easter Egg Hunt, Sensory Library Chimes, plus more. I want individuals like my sister to have the feeling of acceptance. We are also teaching the community on how to accept individuals with disabilities. 

 00:03:09:24 - 00:03:21:23
Jeff Krakoff: Good for you, Lucy. So, I also understand again that there is a, uh, a walk coming up for Best Buddies. Um, Kathy, can you tell us a little bit more about that? 

 00:03:22:03 - 00:04:11:05
Kathy Mahon: Yes. We are very excited to be hosting the Inaugural Seneca Valley Best Buddies Walk. Um, it will take place on Saturday, June 1st at North Boundary Park in Cranbury. The event will kick off at 9 am with the actual walk starting at 10 am and, uh, the event will conclude at noon. We will have music, we'll have face painting, crafts, some light refreshments, some gift baskets to be raffled, and possibly another surprise or two. The registration is $10 per person, and there is an option to purchase an Inaugural Seneca Valley Best Buddies Walk T-shirt for a cost of $15. Um, we welcome anyone. Everyone can participate. The more the merrier. 

 00:04:11:19 - 00:04:21:19
Jeff Krakoff: Okay, so again, it's open to everybody for a very small cost. Um, what's the mission of this event? The walk specifically? 

 00:04:22:09 - 00:04:36:04
Kathy Mahon: So, our walk at the local level really supports the global Best Buddies mission. It's all about inclusion, friendship and providing well-deserved opportunities for those individuals with special abilities. 

 00:04:36:20 - 00:04:44:05
Jeff Krakoff: Okay. And again, I take it it's a fundraiser since there is a registration fee. Where do the proceeds go to? 

 00:04:44:21 - 00:04:48:12
Kathy Mahon: So, all of the proceeds will go to Best Buddies International. 

 00:04:48:16 - 00:04:59:14
Jeff Krakoff: Awesome. 100%. So, if I were interested in registering for this or just finding out more info, I. I would bet there's information on the website. But where do people go? 

 00:05:00:09 - 00:05:30:23
Kathy Mahon: Yes. The registration link is now live, and it will be posted on the Seneca Valley website within the next day or two. Um, so people can just find that link, sign up very easily on it, purchase a T-shirt at the same time if they like, and they're all set to go. Um, registration goes right up until May 31st, the day before the walk. However, there is an earlier deadline for T-shirts, so if somebody would like to purchase a T-shirt, that deadline is May 6th. 

 00:05:31:24 - 00:05:46:11
Jeff Krakoff: All right, Lucy, tell me a little bit. I know most kids have very busy lives. Lots of activities, lots of things going on. How does it make you feel being part of an organization like Best Buddies? What do you think about it? 

 00:05:47:00 - 00:06:02:11
Lucy Martsolf: It makes me feel really good inside because I know that other people are safe in the community. They accept other people. It just makes me feel really happy inside that other people, like my sister, will have the ability to do what they always wanted to do. 

 00:06:02:19 - 00:06:06:22
Jeff Krakoff: That's great. Is it something you're able to do with some of your friends also? 

 00:06:07:11 - 00:06:08:09
Lucy Martsolf: Mhm. Yeah. 

 00:06:08:11 - 00:06:23:12
Jeff Krakoff: Awesome. So just one last question for you Kathy. Is there any additional information you'd like to share with people about the Best Buddies program or the walk that's going to take place in early June?  

 00:06:23:14 - 00:06:45:09
Kathy Mahon: So, you know, although this is our first year in doing the walk, we are really hoping to make it a huge success and raise as much money as possible for this wonderful organization. I've been to several Best Buddies fundraisers in the past, and it is such an important and worthwhile cause. And I really just encourage everyone to join us and spread the word to others. 

 00:06:45:17 - 00:07:08:24
Jeff Krakoff: All right, that's awesome. So again, go to the website, check out all the information about the Best Buddies chapter at Haine Elementary and the upcoming walk. Uh, our guest today. Again, thanks so much for your time, Doctor Kathy Mahon, uh, who's a school psychologist. And very special thank you to Lucy Martsolf for joining us today, fourth grader. Thanks again. 

 00:07:09:02 - 00:07:09:29
Kathy Mahon: Thank you. 

 00:07:10:09 - 00:07:11:03
Lucy Martsolf: Thank you.