WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Best Buddies Marks 10th Anniversary (West Hartford-WTNH) _ The State of Connecticut is hoping a hefty cash reward announced Friday will help bring in the killers of Yale student Suzanne Jovin. Jovin's murder last year helped bring attention to a group called "Best Buddies", where she volunteered for four years while in New Haven. Sunday "Best Buddies" celebrated a ten year anniversary, and is hoping to bring in more dedicated volunteers. News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue reports. These Connecticut students are hoping that just seeing the fun they're having will encourage more volunteers to become Best Buddies. Chris Nelson, Buddy: "Chris has gone through everything I've gone through so he can help me get through in life..." Owen, Best Buddy: "I've put him on a list and we work together as a team." The program pairs average citizens Owen with buddies like Chris, people with mental retardation. More than 200 buddies have been helped statewide by college and high school student groups. Still the organization needs more volunteers from the working world. Stan Kontogiannis, State Director: "When we help individuals who are isolated in the community we bring them out and they blossom and we learn so much as well from them then we're helping ourselves." Today the city of West Hartford joined New Haven and the state in declaring March 'Best Buddies Month' to bring more awareness to the organization. The murder of Best Buddy and Yale student Suzanne Jovin last December continues to bring them attention. They're hoping reward money put forward by the state will lead to Jovin's attacker. Kontogiannis: "We've had sympathy cards from Best Buddies chapters all over the country as well as from Canada and Greece where we have chapters as well. So Suzanne's loss was an entire loss for Best Buddies International, and we all feel the same pain as we did the first day when we were made aware of her loss." In February Best Buddies dedicated a memorial library on Yale's campus to Jovin. Since announcing it, they have already received some 2,000 books as donations. They thank the public for interest and hope they can get all of the shelves filled. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Best Buddies Marks 10th Anniversary
(West Hartford-WTNH) _ The State of Connecticut is hoping a hefty cash reward announced Friday will help bring in the killers of Yale student Suzanne Jovin. Jovin's murder last year helped bring attention to a group called "Best Buddies", where she volunteered for four years while in New Haven. Sunday "Best Buddies" celebrated a ten year anniversary, and is hoping to bring in more dedicated volunteers.
News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue reports.

Best Buddies celebration These Connecticut students are hoping that just seeing the fun they're having will encourage more volunteers to become Best Buddies.

Chris Nelson, Buddy: "Chris has gone through everything I've gone through so he can help me get through in life..."
Owen, Best Buddy: "I've put him on a list and we work together as a team."

The program pairs average citizens Owen with buddies like Chris, people with mental retardation. More than 200 buddies have been helped statewide by college and high school student groups. Still the organization needs more volunteers from the working world.

Stan Kontogiannis, State Director: "When we help individuals who are isolated in the community we bring them out and they blossom and we learn so much as well from them then we're helping ourselves."

Today the city of West Hartford joined New Haven and the state in declaring March 'Best Buddies Month' to bring more awareness to the organization.

The murder of Best Buddy and Yale student Suzanne Jovin last December continues to bring them attention. They're hoping reward money put forward by the state will lead to Jovin's attacker.

Kontogiannis: "We've had sympathy cards from Best Buddies chapters all over the country as well as from Canada and Greece where we have chapters as well. So Suzanne's loss was an entire loss for Best Buddies International, and we all feel the same pain as we did the first day when we were made aware of her loss."

In February Best Buddies dedicated a memorial library on Yale's campus to Jovin. Since announcing it, they have already received some 2,000 books as donations. They thank the public for interest and hope they can get all of the shelves filled.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.