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 the foundation for transformative change in their communities.
Alabama
Birmingham
Arizona
Scottsdale
California
Bay Area
Los Angeles
San Diego
Colorado
Denver
Connecticut
Farmington
Delaware
Wilmington
Florida
North Florida
Orlando
Palm Beach
South Florida
Tampa Bay
Southwest Florida
Georgia
Atlanta
Hawaii
Honolulu
Illinois
Chicago
Central Illinois
Indiana
Indianapolis
Iowa
Des Moines
Kentucky
Louisville
Maine
Portland
Maryland
Hunt Valley
Michigan
Dearborn
Minnesota
Minneapolis
Nevada
Las Vegas
New Hampshire
Manchester
New Jersey
Totowa
New Mexico
Albuquerque
North Carolina
Charlotte
Oklahoma
Tulsa
Oregon
Portland
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
South Carolina
Greenville
Tennessee
Nashville
Texas
Central Texas
Houston
North Texas
Utah
Virtual Event
Washington
Seattle
Washington D.C.
Washington D.C.
Wisconsin
Milwaukee
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 MoreOur 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.
Champions
Million Raised
Alabama
Anna Moates & Eleese Anthony
$23,000.00
Arizona
Chris Sullivan & Ashlee Coffman
$134,300.00
California: Bay Area
Kevin Lint
$31,851
California: Los Angeles
Carlos Lopezleon
$25,000
California: San Diego
AJ Arciniega
$15,231
Colorado & Utah
Michael Fischer
$26,062.83
Connecticut
Abby Senich and Christine Sullivan
$25,000.00
Delaware
Bob England
$5,858.00
Florida: North Florida
Wade Swindell, Scott Goldstein and Skyler Sharp
$70,231.00
Florida: Orlando
Rob Concelman & Mark Stone
$51,000.00
Florida: Palm Beach
Nishant Patel & his Mission Partner, Drew McSweeney
$54,000.00
Florida: South Florida
Haley Gershon
Florida: Southwest Florida
Laura Georgelos & Mission Partner, Daughter Tori
$20,580.00
Florida: Tampa Bay
Dean Valenti with Mission Partner: Joshua Felder
$45,000.00
Georgia
Callaghan Finnegan and Kennedy Baldini
$37,000
Hawaii
Brian Yano and Ho’opi’ookalani Balaz
$16,763
Illinois: Central Illinois
Marcus Jackson
$21,292
Illinois: Chicago
Sophie Greene
$42,850.00
Indiana
Ashley Lee
$41,705.75
Kentucky
Meghan Strite and Cam Brian
$19,402.00
Maine
Lauren Weber
$42,000.00
Maryland
Rebe Schaefer
$21,025.00
Michigan
Rachel Mueller
$12,906.67
Minnesota
Patrick Elmore & Jessica Scheu
$68,000.00
Nevada
Tyler Corder
$230,000.00
New Hampshire
Ian Clemence-Schreiner
$27,058.00
New Jersey
Jenna Rosa
$76,050
New Mexico
Vanessa Berumen
$5,735.00
New York
Caroline Hewitt
$6,725.00
New York: Albany
Trinity Hogben & Meg Phelps
$10,000.00
North Carolina
Samantha Terres
$34,000.00
Ohio: Cleveland
Kate Scovil
$44,000.00
Ohio: Columbus
Alex Rogers & Sharla Thomas
$30,000.00
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
Jason & Teddy Anderson
$20,000.00
Texas: Houston
Jordyn Ensell
$79,075.00
Texas: North Texas
John Campbell
$53,500.00
Washington
Marykylie Cranford
$25,000
Washington, DC
Rosie Pollak
$14,328.50
Wisconsin
Madison Dettmann & Amelia Jennings
$10,000
Know someone who might make a great Champion? Nominate them below!