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.

Find a Campaign

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

Lillian Hill is the Champion of the Year

Alabama
Lillian Hill
$11,000.00+

Arizona Champion of the Year Kailey Sullivan

Arizona
Kailey Sullivan

California: Bay Area
BJ White
$31,795

Los Angeles Champion of the Year, Kristen Van Handel

California: Los Angeles
Kristen Van Handel
$66,000

California: San Diego
AJ Arciniega
$15,231

Matt Davies, and his Campaign Manager, Val Sobol

Connecticut
Matt Davies & Val Sobol
$16,000.00

Brianna Wolfle and her Mission Partner, Ben Moulder

Delaware
Brianna Wolfle & Ben Moulder
$10,900.00

Kayla Sharp with mission partner and family

Florida: North Florida
Kayla Sharp
$98,490.00

Orlando COY Champions, Fabio Zacco and Marvin Fung

Florida: Orlando
Fabio Zacco & Marvin Fung
$46,613.00

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

SW Florida Champion David Elkins and Mission Partner Julie Lyle

Florida: Southwest Florida
David Elkins with Mission Partner Julie Lyle
$7,585

Broward Champion of the Year - Laura Greary

Florida: Tampa Bay
Laura Greary
$33,410.00

Georgia
Andrew Dixon
$58,000

Hawaii
Brian Yano and Ho’opi’ookalani Balaz
$24,000

2023 Champion of the Year for Central Illinois, Beth Hayes

Illinois: Central Illinois
Beth Hayes
$23,520

Illinois: Chicago
Victoria Hill
$50,000.00

Indiana Champion of the Year Reid Brenton

Indiana
Reid Brenton, Champion & Pete Steinkamp, Mission Partner
$69.950.07

Iowa
Kimberly Krantz
$50,900.00

Kentucky
Ami Cain and Cam Brian
$17,415.00

Maine Champion of the Year Fiona MacArthur

Maine
Fiona MacArthur and Mission Partner, Payton Brown
$52,000.00

Maryland
Julia Goldsmith
$11,400.00

Michigan Champions of the Year Nick Paruch and John Wyskiel

Michigan
Nick Paruch and John Wyskiel
$69,500.00

Minnesota Champion of the Year Sara Messerli

Minnesota
Sara Messerli and mission partner, Maggie Erickson
$44,216.00

Mountain (CO & UT)
Lloyd Lewis & Kennedy Lewis
$31,248.93

Camille Herd and her Mission Partner, Gabi

Nevada
Camille Herd & Gabi
$35,000.00

New Hampshire Champion of the Year, Jennifer Corriveau

New Hampshire
Jennifer Corriveau and her Mission Partner James Masterson
$49,371.19

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

Cleveland Champion of the Year Katie Kilmek

Ohio: Cleveland
Katie Kilmek
$65,000.00

Ohio: Columbus
Alex Rogers & Sharla Thomas
$20,000.00

Oklahoma
Asher Ward
$123,000.00

Oregon
Kendall Campbell
$44,000.00

Philadelphia Champion of the Year Ashley Long

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
Ashley Long
$9,159.00

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

Houston Champion of the Year Jordyn Ensell

Texas: Houston
Jordyn Ensell and her Mission Partner Juliette Molloy
$83,974.72

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

Washington Champion of the Year Courtney Block

Washington
Courtney Block
$45,000

Washington, DC
Champions of the Year Rose, Dave and Reilly Donovan
$64,850.00

Wisconsin
Madison Dettmann & Amelia Jennings
$36,000

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

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