Kathy Forde

Every other week Kathy Forde has a date with a special friend.

The Corona del Mar resident is a volunteer mentor for the Best

Buddies International, a nonprofit organization that coordinates

one-on-one friendships to enhance the lives of mentally disabled

people and help them be a part of mainstream society.

Nanette is a 46-year-old Costa Mesa woman with Down’s syndrome who

works at a mailing center and lives in an apartment complex that

specializes in accommodating disabled people.

Forde, who worked as an executive assistant to the Newport Beach

city manager for 12 years until May 2001, met Nanette through Best

Buddies in September, she said.

“If I’ve helped Nanette at all, it’s that she’s very comfortable

in any circumstance,” Forde said. “Now she can walk into any place

and feel comfortable.”

New experiences through biweekly outings have helped cultivate

this confidence. Forde characterized their excursions as “anything

you would do with your best friend.”

Holidays have been a major source of activity for the two. To

celebrate Halloween, they visited a pumpkin patch and attended a

canine costume show at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort.

“And of course, you get into the fall, fall colors,” Forde said.

The two also go on shopping outings at places Forde described as

“All the way from Fashion Island to K-Mart.”

Overall, Forde has provided Nanette with an experience of the

world that others haven’t in her last 45 years.

“It’s a win-win friendship,” Forde said, adding that they are

“sharing from both sides of the table. We’re both learning, we’re

both growing.”

One of the most valuable lessons Forde has learned from Nanette is

to be honest and open about how you feel.

“There’s no filter for her feelings,” Forde said, explaining that

with Nanette, “If she loves someone, she’ll tell them.”

-- Story by Tom Forquer