Chris Brown & Romero Britto Team Up in Support of Best Buddies International

Grammy award winning artist Chris Brown joined creative forces with world-renowned pop artist Romero Britto to launch Symphonic Love Foundation's Global Best Buddies Day in support of Best Buddies International. Both Brown and Britto are long standing supporters of Best Buddies, which creates opportunities for friendship, employment and leadership training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and advocates for people with IDD. The artists combined their unique styles and mediums, creating original artwork with Best Buddies participants to raise funds and promote the campaign's message of inclusion and acceptance.

SLF Global Best Buddies Day is an initiative of Symphonic Love Foundation, a nonprofit Brown launched in 2012 to inspire his fans around the world to give back in the areas of "Art" and "Love" and to express their individuality and creativity. SLF Global Best Buddies Day encourages the public to take action and raise awareness in support of people with IDD. The campaign aims to activate Brown's fans to volunteer with one of Best Buddies' programs around the world, to create and upload to the SLF online gallery original artwork inspired by the campaign's slogan "Our Differences Make Us Beautiful," and to promote Best Buddies Friendship Walks throughout the U.S. Brown hopes the movement will result in increased acceptance of people with IDD and lasting relationships between his fans and Best Buddies teams around the world.

"It's an honor to work with Britto to support Best Buddies" said Brown, who has long admired Britto's iconic work. "Collaborating with other artists helps me grow as an artist. Using those mediums to give back helps me grow as a person."

"We are thrilled to be collaborating with Chris Brown and Romero Britto, two amazing artists who have been supporting Best Buddies in a myriad of ways for years, on this project," said Anthony K. Shriver, Founder and Chairman, Best Buddies International. "We sincerely appreciate their continued efforts to help raise funds and awareness for our mission of inclusion, and look forward to seeing the masterpiece they create with our buddies. "

"I'm always very honored and committed to support Best Buddies in any way that I can!" expresses Britto. "I'm so excited to collaborate with the incredibly talented Chris Brown for this amazing cause. Together, we have the opportunity to reach, educate, and mobilize millions in support of those with IDD."

For the past four years, Brown has visited with Best Buddies participants throughout the U.S. and Australia, donated proceeds from his U.S. tour, provided financial support from his Symphonic Love Foundation, and provided VIP tickets for Best Buddies participants to his concerts in the U.S. and abroad. Britto serves as a Global Ambassador and Board member for Best Buddies, and has been an active supporter of the nonprofit since the early '90s. Britto first became involved with Best Buddies when he donated one of his images, specifically inspired by friendship, to the organization's fine art collection. Designing Audi and Bentley cars for auction, as well as designing jerseys for the annual Best Buddies Challenge, are just some of the ways in which he continues to donate his time and talent in support of Best Buddies. We can all enjoy Britto's monumental Best Buddies Friendship Bear outside of the O2 Dome in Berlin. The permanent installation was dedicated to the city of Berlin by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in honor of people with intellectual disabilities who inspire their communities worldwide.

Earlier this month, Brown collaborated with graffiti artist Slick to create artwork to benefit Best Buddies. Both Brown's collaborations with Slick and Romero Britto will be auctioned off on the global charity auction siteCharitybuzz.com in the coming weeks to benefit Best Buddies. Limited edition prints and T-shirts of the artwork will also be available with all proceeds donated to the cause.

To get involved with SLF Global Best Buddies Day throughout the year visit http://symphoniclovefoundation.org/fun-zone/

About Symphonic Love Foundation

Symphonic Love Foundation supports and creates arts programs for youth while encouraging every day public service, respect and kindness. Symphonic Love believes in the capacity of love and art to change the world. Since 2006, Brown has donated proceeds from every domestic tour to charity and continues to support long-term partnerships with acclaimed nonprofits including Best Buddies International, Jenesse Center Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Get Schooled and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. For more information, please visit www.symphoniclovefoundation.org, www.facebook.com/symphoniclovefoundation orwww.twitter.com/cbslf

About Best Buddies International

Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to almost 1,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies' eight formal programs - Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies , Jobs, Ambassadors, and Promoters - engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 50 countries, positively impacting the lives of nearly 700,000 people with and without disabilities around the world. As a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org, facebook.com/bestbuddies or twitter.com/bestbuddies

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