*Correction: The date of the Disability Expo was changed to January 12, 2025 from 3:00-5:00 PM.
Friendship Circle of Virginia (FCVA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to creating an inclusive community where people with and without disabilities connect through meaningful friendships and social experiences. Aiming to foster mutual respect and understanding, FCVA brings together individuals from all walks of life, celebrating the differences and similarities that make each person unique and valued. FCVA welcomes participants of all abilities, cultural backgrounds, and faiths, creating a space where everyone belongs. With over a decade of service in Virginia, FCVA has served thousands of families with members with disabilities and teens, and the best part is all of their programs are free!
Programs at Friendship Circle of Virginia
Friends@Home
Each week during the school year, FCVA matches Teen Friends from the community with children and teens with disabilities, encouraging them to build connections in the comfort of the child’s home. These one-hour visits are filled with laughter and friendship, fostering bonds that often grow into lasting, meaningful relationships between the child, the teen volunteer, and their families.
Birthday Circle
FCVA organizes birthday parties at various fun community locations every month, inviting all members, their siblings, and parents to celebrate together. Birthday Circle gives children with disabilities a chance to experience the joy of a birthday surrounded by friends and loved ones, promoting inclusion in each celebration.
Friends With Pens Pen Pal Program
In this pen pal initiative, a Teen Friend is paired with a child with a disability. The teen sends two handwritten letters per month, offering a personal connection. The child is welcome to reply, though there’s no pressure, allowing the friendship to grow naturally.
Community Events
FCVA hosts inclusive, awareness-raising events throughout the year, covering themes such as disabilities, mental health, and community inclusion. These gatherings welcome friends, families, and the general community to experience the beauty of diversity and the power of belonging without judgment.
The Heart of Friendship Circle: Teen Friends
Teen Friends from the community are essential to FCVA’s mission. They volunteer their time to build genuine friendships with children and young adults who have disabilities. For teens, this is a chance to develop interpersonal skills, connect with the disability community, make a new friend, and take on leadership roles as advocates for inclusivity. FCVA empowers these teens with the message that being a friend is about mutual friendship, where they receive equally rewarding and transformative relationships, creating lifelong connections across communities.
Upcoming Events
Walk n Roll and Friendship Fair
November 10, 1–3 PM at Fountain Lake in Byrd Park
Join us to walk, roll, scooter, or skate along a one-mile loop! The fair will feature live music, inflatables, pony rides, and more. For event details and registration, visit friendshipcircleva.org/events/4th-annual-walk-n-roll.
November Birthday Circle: Adaptive Horseback Riding
November 18, 2-4 Mesa Vista Farm
Celebrate November birthdays with a day of adaptive horseback riding! Visit FriendshipCircleVA.org/events to learn more.
Disability and Adaptive Fashion Show & Disability Expo
December 8, 3–5 PM at the Virginia Repertory Theater Ballroom
Friendship Circle of Virginia invites you to our Disability and Adaptive Fashion Show in Partnership with the VCU Arts Department of Fashion Design and Merchandizing, which will feature adaptive fashions for all ages and abilities and showcase adaptive clothing companies, models, and artists.
2nd Annual Disability Expo
January 12, 3–5 PM, and the Weinstein JCC
The second annual Disability Expo, in partnership with the Weinstein JCC, will feature local non-profits and businesses that provide resources for individuals across all life stages—from infants to senior citizens and their families.
Visit FCVA.org for details, times, and locations for all upcoming programs and events and to learn more about how Friendship Circle facilitates friendships and social opportunities for people with and without disabilities through its free programs, which enrich lives and help build an inclusive community one friendship at a time.
