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.
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
in 2020
Millions Raised
in 2020
Arizona
Alesia Thomason
$34,396.00
California
Marco Dondero
$17,510.00
Colorado
Jase Roberts
$12,038.52
Connecticut
Peter Ramsay
$6,125.00
Delaware
Bill Ziegler
$7,760.00
Florida: Jacksonville
Pat Flynn
$26,406.00
Florida: Orlando
Brian Holmes
$27,000.00
Florida: Palm Beach
Marjorie Ambroise & Anna Berger
$7,000.00
Florida: South Florida
Alec Raich
$12,896.00
Florida: Southwest Florida
Carrie Ann Texter
$23,327.00
Florida: Tampa Bay
Letitia Murry
$25,000.00
Georgia
Michael Kozicki
$13,000.00
Hawaii
Brian Yano
$12,234.45
Illinois: Cental Illinois
Monica Lonergan
$7,825.29
Illinois: Chicago
Hallie Puttrich
$25,000.00
Indiana
Joe Shorr
$23,293.00
Kentucky
Audrey Davis
$11,136.00
Louisiana
Ivette Villanueva & Tiffany Hillegass
$21,087.00
Maine
Jaime Kiesow
$9,500.00
Michigan
Megan Carlisle
$16,325.45
Minnesota
JJ Neugent
$33,075.00
Missouri
Bryan Leveritt
$11,285.00
Nevada
Kelsey Stegall
$10,291.11
New Hampshire
Jenna Baggs
$13,000.00
New Jersey
NRG Energy
$28,300.00
New Jersey
Michael Gardener
$14,915.00
New York
Lisa Latten
$6,630.00
North Carolina
Samantha Terres
$22,000.00
Ohio
Sami Stevens
$29,625.00
Pennsylvania
Noreen Liebrock
$16,664.00
Texas
Kimberly Maraldo
$10,075.00
Washington
Ivanova Smith & Eric Matthes
$14,054
Wisconsin
Rachel & Scott Steele
$12,000
Know someone who might make a great Champion? Nominate them below!