Homecoming: Two Parties One Purpose Gala
Unites and recognizes the community’s most active leaders in the name of inclusion.
6:00 PM | Washington, DC
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!
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!
Get ready for an unforgettable night out in DC! Best Buddies Homecoming: Two Parties, One Purpose takes over the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on Friday, October 30, bringing together incredible food, live music, dancing, one-of-a-kind auction experiences and more—all in celebration of friendship and inclusion.
At the Adult Gala, your $200 general admission ticket includes an open bar and chef tastings from some of the area’s favorite local restaurants, including The Duck & The Peach, The Salt Line, Taco Bamba, Electric Bull, Silver and Sons BBQ, Lebanese Taverna, Stellina Pizzeria and TCMA. Each chef will team up with a Best Buddies sous chef to serve something special for the evening. Enjoy live music from Bootsie and the Groove and bid on incredible experiences. Meet this year’s Champion of the Year candidates before ending the night with a champagne toast, dessert, live music and dancing.
And the best part? An incredible night out also makes an incredible impact. Every ticket helps Best Buddies create opportunities for friendship, employment, leadership development and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Virginia and Washington, DC.
Just steps away, we’re throwing a Homecoming Dance designed especially for students and Best Buddies participants with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities—and tickets are only $10! From 6:00–10:00 pm, guests can dance with DJ 24/7, grab some pizza, strike a pose in the photo booths, create something at the Kendra Scott Color Bar, enjoy activities hosted by We Are Artistic and show off their best look in our Halloween costume contest. Plus, guests can enter to win incredible raffle prizes, including a Kendra Scott Color Bar party and a professional makeup lesson and mini social media photoshoot with celebrity makeup artist Alondra! Guests can also take a break from the action in a sensory-friendly area hosted by the National Children’s Museum.
Two parties. One purpose. One incredible night celebrating inclusion. We’ll see you at Homecoming!
See More
About the Adult Gala | $200
Best Buddies Champion of the Year is a competitive fundraising campaign that unites and recognizes leaders of inclusion in local communities nationwide.
Adult supporters will indulge in culinary delights crafted by local chefs and their Best Buddies sous chefs, along with delicious drinks and cocktails. Additionally, guests can participate in silent and live auctions featuring fantastic items from our community and beyond!
We will honor our incredible Champion of the Year candidates, who have dedicated themselves to raising funds and awareness for Best Buddies. These Champions advocate for our mission, creating opportunities for friendships, jobs, and leadership development for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The evening will culminate in the announcement of the ultimate Champion of the Year for Virginia and Washington, DC.
The Adult Party is open to anyone over the age of 21 who would like to support our Best Buddies programs! There are a variety of levels available for access to the event. If you are a member of our Best Buddies programs and are in need of financial assistance, please email OliviaMurphy-Costanzo@bestbuddies.org to arrange.
6:00 pm – The Party Begins
Enjoy an open bar, live music from Bootsie and the Groove, silent auction and Chef & Best Buddies Sous Chef tasting stations featuring TCMA, The Duck & The Peach, The Salt Line, Taco Bamba, Electric Bull, Silver and Sons BBQ, Lebanese Taverna and Stellina Pizzeria.
8:00 pm – Program & Live Auction
Cheer on our Champion of the Year candidates, bid during the live auction, celebrate the Diane Ray Brown Lifetime of Friendship Award sponsored by Tiffany & Co., experience powerful mission moments and find out who will be named THE Champion of the Year!
9:15 pm – Champagne, Dessert & Dancing
Raise a glass to inclusion with a champagne toast, enjoy dessert and close out the night with live music from Bootsie and the Groove and dancing!
About the Student Dance | $10
Students will enjoy an exciting night with DJ 24/7, dancing, pizza, fun, and friendship. Taking place in the atrium, this event is the perfect opportunity to get dressed up and make lifelong memories with your friends!
The Student Dance is only open to Best Buddies High School and College Chapter members along with Best Buddies Jobs, Transitions, Ambassadors, or Citizens members up to age 26. No alcohol is allowed inside the student dance, and no one under the influence will be allowed into the event.
6:00–10:00 pm – Dance the Night Away!
Get ready for four hours of Homecoming fun with music from DJ 24/7, dancing, pizza, photo booths, games, a Kendra Scott Color Bar, activities hosted by We Are Artistic, a Halloween costume contest and more!
Plus, enter to win exciting raffle prizes, including a Kendra Scott Color Bar party and a professional makeup lesson and mini social media photoshoot with celebrity makeup artist Alondra!
Need a break from the dance floor? Guests can recharge in our sensory-friendly area hosted by the National Children’s Museum before jumping back into the fun.
Save the Date & Join Us
Our goal is to raise $330,000 to support local Best Buddies programs here in Virginia & DC. You can contribute by supporting a Champion’s campaign, purchasing tickets, sponsoring a student ticket, becoming a corporate sponsor, or making a general donation. Thank you!
Whether you’re a philanthropic community member excited for a night out with a purpose or a high school student ready to dance, we invite you to join us for an evening filled with joy, excitement, and the spirit of friendship. Your participation will help us continue providing meaningful opportunities to individuals with IDD in our community. Don’t miss out on this fun, thrilling, and impactful event!
Schedule
Friday, Oct. 30, 2026
Program for the Adult Party:
6:00pm-7:45pm: Silent Auction, Open Bar, Chef & Buddy Sous Chef Tasting Stations
8:00pm-10:00pm: Live Auction, Introduction of Champions, Diane Ray Brown Lifetime of Friendship Award sponsored by Tiffany & Co., Mission Moments & Naming of THE Champion of the Year.
Program for Student
Homecoming Dance:
6:00pm-10:00pm: Dancing, Music with DJ 24/7, Pizza, Games, Photo Booths and Fun!
Location
Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004
Transportation
Directions & Information for the Ronald Reagan Building:
We recommend that everyone arrive via the 14th Street Entrance – view directions
Renting School or Charter Bus:
Talk to your advisor and/or school administrator about renting a school or charter bus for driving into and out of Washington DC!
Event Contact
Congrats to our 2025 Washington, DC Champion of the Year
Abby Criswell & Lisa Rice
Raised $28,130 for Best Buddies in Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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
The Bender Foundation
The Rice Family Foundation
Restaurant Sponsors
For sponsorship opportunities and other event inquiries, please contact: