Hand-in-Hand Program

Celebrating 49 Years of Hand-In-Hand!

 

In 1974, the DFRC Hand-in-Hand Program was added as the centerpiece of the DFRC Blue-Gold All★Star Football Program as a way to give high school students participating in the DFRC Blue-Gold Game the opportunity to be matched with children and young adults with intellectual disABILITIES. The goal of this program is to bring greater awareness to participants about the community that benefits from the efforts of the DFRC Blue-Gold Game: Delaware citizens with intellectual disABILITIES.

The DFRC Hand-in-Hand Program continues today, celebrating almost 50 years of one of the most unique programs in the nation. Delaware is the first and one of the only states to have an All★Star program that matches its participants - football players, cheerleaders, band members, and ambassadors – with the beneficiaries of the game: individuals with intellectual disABILITIES.

Each year, groups of DFRC Blue-Gold participants are matched with a Buddy-- a child or young adult between the ages of 4 and 18 who has an intellectual disABILITY— though the DFRC Hand-in-Hand Program. The DFRC Blue-Gold All★Star Football Game Committee sponsors planned activities such as parties, picnics, and dances starting in March and continuing through Game Day in June. Participants are also encouraged to see their Buddies on their own – go to a movie, play a game, take a walk – just do things that friends naturally do together. The goal of these activities is to help to build a bond between the Buddy and the high school participants and gain valuable lessons of diversity, awareness, and acceptance. The Hand-in-Hand Program is the heart of the Blue-Gold experience.

If you or your child is between the ages of 4 and 18, has an intellectual disABILITY, and would like to get involved in the Hand-in-Hand Program. Please contact the DFRC office at 302-454-2730 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..