PLYMOUTH — 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.”
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