Champion of the Year: Minnesota
Unites and recognizes the community’s most active leaders in the name of inclusion.
5:00 PM | Minneapolis, MN
Thank You!
Thank you for participating in this year’s Champion of the Year event! Because of you, we were able to raise funds to sustain and help expand our Best Buddies programs in the area. We look forward to having you at next year’s event. With your help and support, our mission of inclusion lives on!
Join Best Buddies in Minnesota for our 9th Annual Champion of the Year Gala! This year, celebrate in style at our new venue and now on a Saturday. We hope you’ll join us in our mission to champion inclusion across the state of Minnesota!
Best Buddies Champion of the Year is a competitive fundraising campaign that unites and recognizes leaders of inclusion in local communities nationwide.
Champion Candidates commit to raising funds and awareness for Best Buddies throughout their campaign. Our Champions advocate for the Best Buddies mission and will generate countless opportunities for friendships, jobs, leadership development, inclusive living and family support. At the Best Buddies Champion of the Year celebration, we honor the Champions’ collective impact and name the ultimate Champion of the Year!
Registration Deadline: Ticket sales will close on Friday, October 31st or when the event sells out. Don’t wait to purchase your tickets – we typically sell out around the beginning of October.
Event Features: Your ticket includes passed hors d’oeuvres, drinks from the hosted bar, plated dinner with wine pour, dessert, live entertainment, free parking, and access to the silent auction, live auction, and other games throughout the evening.
It’s our goal to raise $395,000 at this event to sustain and grow Best Buddies programs in Minnesota that currently support over 2,500 children and adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). You can support our mission of inclusion and help us continue to provide meaningful opportunities for people with IDD by supporting a Champion’s campaign, purchasing tickets, becoming a corporate sponsor, donating to and/or participating in the silent auction, or making a general donation to the cause.
Schedule
Saturday, November 14, 2026
5:00 PM – Check-In, Hosted Bar and Silent Auction
7:00 PM – Dinner, Program, Live Auction & Fund-a-Need
9:00 PM – 2026 Champion of the Year Announcement
9:30 PM – After Party
11:00 PM – Event Concludes
Location
Royalston Square
501 Royalston Ave,
Minneapolis, MN 55405
Event Contact
Congrats to our 2025 Minnesota Champion of the Year
Shelby Hohneke and Mikayla Holmgren
Raised $115,193 for Best Buddies in Minnesota
Minnesota
A Glimpse of the Party...
Why Participate...
All funds raised benefit Best Buddies – the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families.
The IDD community that Best Buddies serves individuals with IDD and their families. The IDD community includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities.
We Love our Sponsors!
Presenting Sponsor
Signature Sponsor
Additional Sponsors
For sponsorship opportunities and other event inquiries, please contact: