Friendship Circle International

Friendship Circle NYC

Special needs programs, teen volunteering, and community for children and families across New York City

Friendship Circle in New York City

Friendship Circle NYC brings together teen volunteers and individuals with special needs across all five boroughs of New York City. Through weekly friendship visits, holiday celebrations, summer programs, and community events, Friendship Circle creates a world where every person in NYC is valued, included, and connected.

New York City is home to multiple Friendship Circle chapters, each serving their local community with the same mission: real friendships for people with special needs, real growth for teen volunteers, and real impact for families.

NYC Friendship Circle Chapters

NYC Area Chapters (Long Island, Westchester, NJ)

Programs for Individuals with Special Needs in NYC

Friendship Circle NYC chapters offer a range of programs for children, teens, and adults with special needs:

• Friends at Home – One-on-one friendship visits where teen volunteers spend time with their matched friend every week
• Holiday Celebrations – Purim parties, Chanukah events, Sukkot programs, and seasonal celebrations for the whole family
• Summer Programs – Day camps and activities during school breaks
• Friendship Circle Online (FCO) – Virtual weekly programs connecting participants from anywhere
• Community Events – Inclusive gatherings that bring together families, volunteers, and the broader community

Volunteer with Friendship Circle in NYC

Friendship Circle is one of the largest teen volunteer networks in the Jewish community. In NYC, hundreds of teens volunteer each year, building real friendships with individuals who have special needs. It’s the kind of experience that changes both lives.

Looking for teen volunteering or bar/bat mitzvah project opportunities in the NYC area?

• Volunteer in Brooklyn
• Volunteer on the Upper East Side
• Volunteer on the Upper West Side
• Volunteer in Lower Manhattan

Friendship Circle NYC Marathon & Running Events

Team Friendship, Friendship Circle’s adventure fundraising program, brings runners to the streets of New York City every year. Run for a cause that matters while experiencing the world’s greatest marathon course.

About Friendship Circle International

Friendship Circle is a global nonprofit with over 80 chapters serving communities in North America, Europe, Israel, South America, and Australia. Founded on the belief that every person deserves friendship and belonging, Friendship Circle has engaged more than 14,000 teen volunteers and served over 7,500 individuals with special needs worldwide.

Our headquarters are in Brooklyn, NY, and New York City has been central to Friendship Circle’s story from the very beginning.