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Doctors thought a lobotomy would calm Rose Marie Kennedy’s violent mood swings.
She was 23 in 1941 when the procedure was performed, ultimately destroying her life and leaving her family devastated.
Rose Kennedy, Rose Marie’s mother, later buried her sons, John F. and Robert Kennedy.
But out of grief rose strength and a determination to make a difference.
Rose Marie’s sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded the Special Olympics and became an advocate for the disabled on Rose Marie’s behalf.
Shriver’s son, Anthony Kennedy Shriver, in turn, founded Best Buddies in 1989 – a nonprofit organization “dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.”
Plymouth Rock Studios has become a proud disciple of the organization’s mission and the Best Buddy jobs program.
A Best Buddy is someone with an intellectual disability who is enrolled in the Best Buddies program.
“We decided through The Rock Educational Cooperative (TREC) to get involved,” TREC Executive Director Kate Ayson said. “We wanted to make a commitment to the jobs program to try to be a leader to get Best Buddies hired not only here at the studio, but to encourage our tenants working on the studio campus to hire a Best Buddies as well.”
The Best Buddies jobs program helps intellectually challenged people find jobs. A Best Buddies coach ensures the job in question is suitable and a good fit for the Best Buddy, helps with training and oversees the new worker.
Twenty PRS executives and employees biked up to 100 miles for the Best Buddies cause May 30. The event, dubbed The Hyannisport Challenge, began at the JFK Library in Dorchester and ended at the 100-mile mark at the Kennedy Compound in Hyannisport, where PRS executives David Kirkpatrick, Earl Lestz, Bill Wynne and Joe Dilorenzo were treated to a private luncheon with Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her husband, Sargent Shriver.
It must have been particularly rewarding for Kirkpatrick, who had just pedaled 50 miles for the cause.
Like Kirkpatrick, the majority the PRS team began the ride at the halfway mark, in Carver.
Each member raised at least $1,250 for the event. In addition, PRS held a Best Buddies fundraiser at Croma in Colony Place May 21, and raised $17,000 for a total of $50,000 for the cause. Ayson couldn’t say enough for Croma, which donated restaurant space and staff.
“We were in the top fundraising teams out of about 115,” Ayson added. “People really jumped on board here, and we hope to have more riders next year. We want to be the top fundraiser for Best Buddies.”
Doctors thought a lobotomy would calm Rose Marie Kennedy’s violent mood swings.
She was 23 in 1941 when the procedure was performed, ultimately destroying her life and leaving her family devastated.
Rose Kennedy, Rose Marie’s mother, later buried her sons, John F. and Robert Kennedy.
But out of grief rose strength and a determination to make a difference.
Rose Marie’s sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded the Special Olympics and became an advocate for the disabled on Rose Marie’s behalf.
Shriver’s son, Anthony Kennedy Shriver, in turn, founded Best Buddies in 1989 – a nonprofit organization “dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.”
Plymouth Rock Studios has become a proud disciple of the organization’s mission and the Best Buddy jobs program.
A Best Buddy is someone with an intellectual disability who is enrolled in the Best Buddies program.
“We decided through The Rock Educational Cooperative (TREC) to get involved,” TREC Executive Director Kate Ayson said. “We wanted to make a commitment to the jobs program to try to be a leader to get Best Buddies hired not only here at the studio, but to encourage our tenants working on the studio campus to hire a Best Buddies as well.”
The Best Buddies jobs program helps intellectually challenged people find jobs. A Best Buddies coach ensures the job in question is suitable and a good fit for the Best Buddy, helps with training and oversees the new worker.
Twenty PRS executives and employees biked up to 100 miles for the Best Buddies cause May 30. The event, dubbed The Hyannisport Challenge, began at the JFK Library in Dorchester and ended at the 100-mile mark at the Kennedy Compound in Hyannisport, where PRS executives David Kirkpatrick, Earl Lestz, Bill Wynne and Joe Dilorenzo were treated to a private luncheon with Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her husband, Sargent Shriver.
It must have been particularly rewarding for Kirkpatrick, who had just pedaled 50 miles for the cause.
Like Kirkpatrick, the majority the PRS team began the ride at the halfway mark, in Carver.
Each member raised at least $1,250 for the event. In addition, PRS held a Best Buddies fundraiser at Croma in Colony Place May 21, and raised $17,000 for a total of $50,000 for the cause. Ayson couldn’t say enough for Croma, which donated restaurant space and staff.
“We were in the top fundraising teams out of about 115,” Ayson added. “People really jumped on board here, and we hope to have more riders next year. We want to be the top fundraiser for Best Buddies.”
The Hyannisport Challenge was capped off with evening festivities at Craigsville Beach. Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady, a long-time Best Buddies supporter, and Anthony Shriver spoke. The Bangles, an all-female ’80s band famous for its hit “Walk Like an Egyptian,” among others, kicked out the jams.
In addition to raising money for the cause, Plymouth Rock Studios has hired its own Best Buddy, Peter Johnson, who has bonded with Lestz, PRS’ CEO. The two are reputed to be best buds in real life.
“He’s a young man from Scituate,” Ayson said. “We’re giving him the title of office coordinator. He’s a jack-of-all-trades, helping us to file, to water plants, and disseminate the mail. He’s such a social guy who loves being around people and telling stories.”
PRS’ bike ride to Hyannisport wasn’t all smooth sailing, according to Ayson, who laughingly related a few mishaps that occurred during training days in the Myles Standish State Forest. Some studio employees got lost in the forest, two representatives got flat tires and a Best Buddies coach flew right over the handlebars during a ride. The coach was, thankfully, none the worse for the accident, and went on to complete the May 30 ride.
“The race was such a great team building event,” Ayson added. “We’re really hoping the more attention we bring to this, the more people will be educated about what it is and the capabilities of those with intellectual disabilities and how beneficial it can be to have Best Buddies be a part of a work environment.”
