[NEW YORK CITY, NY] April 4, 2026 — Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan joined Best Buddies International in New York City this weekend to kick off Autism Acceptance Month. Best Buddies is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
During the visit, Donegan spent the day with the New York chapter participating in a sash-making event alongside community members and fellow local and state ambassadors from across the Northeast, including Miss New York Lauren Norris, Miss New Jersey Belle Nicholas, Miss Pennsylvania Victoria Vespico, and Miss Connecticut Cayla Kumar.
The Miss America Organization is proud to support Best Buddies’ work in providing one-to-one friendship, integrated employment, and leadership development opportunities for individuals with and without IDD in New York and across the country—during Autism Acceptance Month and beyond.
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