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Best Buddies Champion Best Buddies Champion Best Buddies Champion Best Buddies Champion
  • About Champions
    • Nominate a Champion
    • Circle of Champions
    • FAQ
    • Find Other Events
  • About Best Buddies
  • RSVP
  • Auction
  • Donate
    • Support a Champion
    • General Event Donation
  • Login
Champion of the year logo

Champion of the Year

unites and recognizes the community’s most active leaders in the name of inclusion.

By devoting their passion, talents, and networks to Best Buddies through a philanthropic competition, our Champions lay for the foundation for transformative change in their communities.

Find a Campaign

Arizona
Virtual Event

California
Virtual Event

Colorado
Virtual Event

Connecticut
Virtual Event

Delaware
Virtual Event

Florida
Jacksonville
Orlando
Palm Beach
South Florida
Tampa Bay
Southwest Florida

Georgia
Virtual Event

Hawaii
Virtual Event

Illinois
Chicago
Central Illinois

Indiana
Virtual Event

Kentucky
Virtual Event

Louisiana
Virtual Event

Maine
Virtual Event

Michigan
Virtual Event

Minnesota
Virtual Event

Missouri
Virtual Event

Nevada
Virtual Event

New Hampshire
Virtual Event

New Jersey
Virtual Event

New York
Virtual Event

North Carolina
Virtual Event

Pennsylvania
Virtual Event

Texas
Virtual Event

Washington
Virtual Event

Wisconsin
Virtual Event

Best Buddies logo

Supporting Local Programs

All funds raised benefit Best Buddies – 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). Our programs empower the special abilities of people with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society.

The IDD community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to, people with Down Syndrome, Autism, Fragile X, Williams Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities.

Learn More

Circle of Champions

Our Champions truly epitomize the word “Champion” itself. This select group of leaders raises millions of dollars for Best Buddies annually, and they impact their local programs in an extraordinary and unprecedented way. While they compete for weeks, we revere their commitment to inclusion forever and lean on their wisdom to guide future Champions.

365

Champions
in 2019

Champion of the Year logo

$4.8

Millions Raised
in 2019

Our 2019 Top 3

1  |  $69,205

Scott Goldstein

Scott Goldstein

Atlantic Trust Morgage
Jacksonville, FL

2  |  $62,525

Dion Lim

Dion Lim

ABC7 News
San Francisco, CA

3  |  $62,409

John Mitman

John Mitman

Urban Energy Soluions
Scottsdale, AZ

Our 2019 Nationwide Champion of the Year Winners

John Mitman

Arizona
John Mitman
Urban Energy Solutions
$62,409

Karen Leder

California: Los Angeles
Karen Leder
Leder Group
$12,000

Tylere Gaffney

California: San Diego
Tyler Gaffney
MS Sports Little Rookies
$15,000

Dion Lim

California: San Francisco
Dion Lim
ABC7 News
$62,525

Callie Sheehan

Colorado
Callie Sheehan
Audit Logistics
$16,600

Dan Blackwood

Connecticut
Dan Blackwood
Pfizer
$25,000

Scott Goldstein

Florida: Jacksonville
Scott Goldstein
Atlantic Trust Mortgage
$69,205

Justin Isaac & Pete Jenkinson

Florida: Orlando
Justin Isaac & Pete Jenkinson
$30,000

Kim Champion

Florida: Palm Beach
Kim Champion
Champion Home Healthcare
$31,000

Mark and Duane

Florida: South Florida
Marc Kunen & Duane Chin Loy

Beth Ann Hill

Florida: Tampa Bay
Beth Ann Hill
The Press Box
$60,000

Ken Coker

Florida: Southwest Florida
Ken Coker
Cross Country Mortgage
$17,477

Grace Key photo

Georgia
Grace Key
Candidly Kind
$11,000

Trace Nardi

Illinois: Chicago
Trace Nardi
$24,000

Stephanie Chaon

Illinois: Central Illinois
Stephanie Chaon
$9,495.40

Chris Thornton & RJ Zeph

Indiana
Chris Thornton & RJ Zeph
$32,137.21

Danielle Davis

Kentucky
Danielle Davis
Lemonade PR
$7,839

Stacey Ryan

Maine
Stacey Ryan
$26,500

Michigan
Hannah Reutter
$20,893

Brittney Fagerly & Kristen Seaquist

Minnesota
Brittney Fagerlee & Kristen Seaquist
$38,580

Matt Berra and Ethan Schroder

Missouri
Matt Berra & Ethan Schroder
$20,295

Anna Billings

Nevada
Anna Billings
Anne Fontaine
$37,560

chris duhaime & ian clemence schreiner

New Hampshire
Chris Duhaime & Ian Clemence Schreiner
$12,000

Rich Sadiv

New Jersey
Rich Sadiv
$54,000

howard Gross

New York: Albany
Howard Gross
eBizDocs
$4,905

Jason Schneebreger

New York: Western NY
Jason Schneeberger
Rochester Fire Department
$10,000

North Carolina
Elizabeth Bateson
WITN-TV Greenville, NC
$30,000

Samantha Scovil & Casey Pollock

Ohio
Samantha Scovil & Casey Pollock
$54,000

Oregon
Karen Gaffney
Providence Health Systems
$34,874.10

Annie Gable

Pennsylvania
Annie Gable
$14,000

Washington
Devon Adelman
Universal Cells
$48,808.86

Rachel & Scott Steele

Wisconsin
Rachel & Scott Steele
$36,030

Know someone who might make a great Champion? Nominate them below!

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Coronavirus Update:

Best Buddies primary interest is the health and safety of our participants, staff and volunteers. This is our top priority. As we navigate the months ahead, please know that we will continue to closely monitor this rapidly-evolving situation in each market and will work diligently to ensure that we have the right plans and resources in place, in adherence to the expert guidance and recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local public health authorities. We will continuously adjust our plans as needed, always putting health and safety first. To stay up-to-date on recent developments and the actions being taken in preparation for COVID-19, click here. As always, we thank you for your continued support.