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 the foundation for transformative change in their communities.

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Alabama
Birmingham

Arizona
Phoenix

California
Bay Area
Los Angeles
Sacramento
San Diego

Colorado
Denver

Connecticut
Farmington

Delaware
Wilmington

Florida
North Florida
Orlando
Palm Beach
South Florida
Tampa Bay
Southwest Florida
Broward

Georgia
Atlanta

Hawaii
Honolulu

Illinois
Chicago
Central Illinois

Indiana
Indianapolis

Iowa
Des Moines

Kentucky
Louisville

Maine
Portland

Maryland
Hunt Valley

Michigan
Dearborn

Minnesota
Minneapolis

Missouri
Kansas City
St. Louis

Nevada
Las Vegas

New Hampshire
Manchester

New Jersey
Totowa

New Mexico
Albuquerque

New York
Albany
Rochester

North Carolina
Charlotte

Ohio
Cleveland
Columbus

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

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.

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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.

1,800

Champions

$27.7

Million Raised

Our 2022 Top 3

1 | $123,000

Asher Ward

Oklahoma

2 | $99,207

Angela Andrews

New Jersey

3 | $98,513

JohnThomas Atema

Tennessee

Our Nationwide Champion of the Year Winners

Anna Moates with her Mission Partner, Eleese Anthony

Alabama
Anna Moates & Eleese Anthony
$23,000.00

Arizona
Kinsey Sullivan
$96,671.17

California: Bay Area
Kevin Lint
$31,851

California: Los Angeles
Carlos Lopezleon
$25,000

California: San Diego
AJ Arciniega
$15,231

Connecticut
Abby Senich and Christine Sullivan
$25,000.00

Samuel Burbank, holds up his trophy for winning as the Top Champion for Delaware.

Delaware
Samuel Burbank
$6,300.00

Kayla Sharp with mission partner and family

Florida: North Florida
Kayla Sharp
$98,490.00

Florida: Orlando
Rob’s Rockstars (Rob Concelman, Leesa Stone, Marissa Nelson and John Nelson)
$85,000.00

Marc Pintel & Mission Partner Stephen Shore

Florida: Palm Beach
Marc Pintel & Stephen Shore
$23,273.02

Florida: South Florida
Michelle Kligman and Carolina Rousell
$55,094

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
$24,000

Illinois: Central Illinois
Marcus Jackson
$21,292

Sophie Greene Illinois Champion of the Year

Illinois: Chicago
Sophie Greene
$45,400.00

RJ Zeph, Champion, & Matt Stapleton, Campaign Manager

Indiana
RJ Zeph & Matt Stapleton
$49,037.00

Iowa
Kimberly Krantz
$50,900.00

Kentucky
Meghan Strite and Cam Brian
$19,402.00

Maine
Lauren Weber
$42,000.00

Maryland
Julia Goldsmith
$11,400.00

Michigan
Sarah Ridley
$16,000.00

Patrick Elmore and mission partner, Jessica Scheu

Minnesota
Patrick Elmore & Jessica Scheu
$68,000.00

Mountain (CO & UT)
Lloyd Lewis
$29,184.00

Camille Herd and her Mission Partner, Gabi

Nevada
Camille Herd & Gabi
$35,000.00

New Hampshire
Meagan Baron & her Mission Partner, Ian
$30,000.00

New Jersey
Angela Andrews
$99,207.00

Terry Casey, 2022 Arizona's Champion of the Year.

New Mexico
Terry Casey
$10,258.00

Western New York
Caroline Hewitt
$6,725.00

New York: Albany
Trinity Hogben & Meg Phelps
$10,000.00

North Carolina
Stephen and Avery Day
$15,000.00

Ohio: Cleveland
Kate Scovil
$44,000.00

Ohio: Columbus
Alex Rogers & Sharla Thomas
$30,000.00

Oklahoma
Asher Ward
$123,000.00

Oregon
Katie Campbell
$50,000.00

Jason Anderson, Champion of the Year, with his son, and Mission Partner, Teddy

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
Jason & Teddy Anderson
$20,000.00

Megan Defebo 2022 Champion, Deidre Kramer 2021 Champion and Noreen Liebrock 2020 Champion.

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh
Megan Defebo

South Carolina
Knox Hudson
$94,158.00

Tennessee
JohnThomas Atema
$98,513.00

Texas: Houston
Jordyn Ensell
$79,075.00

Texas: North Texas
Chris Boult & Annemarie Carrigan
$80,850.00

Washington
Marykylie Cranford
$25,000

Washington, DC
Jaxson Zimmerman
$8,773.00

Wisconsin
Madison Dettmann & Amelia Jennings
$10,000

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

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