Maine COY Program Book

This eight-week philanthropic competition for Best Buddies in Maine celebrates Best Buddies participants and community leaders throughout the State who have been nominated as “Champions” to raise funds and increase awareness for the mission of Best Buddies. Following an eight-week campaign, all candidates are being honored at the Champion of the Year Gala. The Champion candidate who raises the most donations, surpassing all rivals in the competition, is named the 2022 Grand Champion of the Year. Funds raised by the Champions and proceeds from the Gala will directly benefit the local programs of Best Buddies in Maine to create more friendships, develop leadership opportunities, and open new programs for hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities around the state. Thank you for your support of our Champion of the Year gala!

Rebecca Williams

State Director, Best Buddies in Maine

All donations are tax-deductible under all ME laws of tax deductible donations for 501(c)(3) organizations.

How Donations = Programmatic Support

Gift of Friendship

Bring together people with and without IDD for friendships that cultivate community wide social inclusion by funding a new school, citizens or corporate chapter in the Best Buddies Friendship program.

Party With A Purpose

Create a magical evening where buddy pairs celebrate and have fun at the Best Buddies Friendship Ball, similar to a prom for our middle school, high school and college members.

Training Day

Fund an Ambassador training session for up to 50 people with and without IDD, giving them the public speaking skills to champion for inclusion throughout Kentucky

Prepare Future Advocates

Give a student leader, Ambassador, or Faculty Advisor the opportunity to attend the annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference, where they will learn to advocate for themselves and the IDD community.

Gift of Chapter Dues

Help alleviate a high school or college chapter of its $350 annual dues which provides a library of online resources, membership management program, use of the Best Buddies name and logo, and liability insurance.

It’s A Match!

Support a one to one friendship between someone with IDD and his or her peer, helping to build a mutually enriching connection that enhances the lives of program participants and their families.

You’ve Got Mail!

Fund an online e-Buddies friendship between a person with and a person without IDD. The “e-pal” program allows participants to become more social and technology literate, which may lead to more advanced career opportunities.

Prep For Success

Provide an hour of job coaching, where an employment candidate with IDD has the opportunity to practice interview skills, prepare for job readiness, or receive on the job support so he or she can excel in a new placement.

Teach Inclusion At An Early Age

Supply instruction for interactive activities, lesson plans and tool kits for school students in a Best Buddies chapter so that they can learn about acceptance and inclusion at a young age.

$5,000$3,000 $2,500

$1,000$350 $250

$100 $50 $25

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Proudly supporting Kristin Beaulieu, Assistant Manager ofour South Portland location on her journey to become Best Buddies Champion ofthe Year 2022.

GrandPrizeGiveaway

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De Beers Forevermark- Center ofMy Universe Three Stone Diamond Necklace in 18 Karat White Gold Valuedat$2,595

MEET OUR 2022 CHAMPIONS

Sunday, May 7th, 2023 Cheverus High School Register Your Team Today: BESTBUDDIESFRIENDSHIPWALK.ORG/MAINE Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities Available! Contact RebeccaWilliams@BestBuddies.org

Friendships for Adults: CITIZENS

During the pandemic, Best Buddies provided opportunities for adults to engage socially through weekly zoom meetings. Now, they are ready to take on the world for friendship! To get involved, contact ShayWilcox@bestbuddies.org

BESTBUDDIES®

Best Buddies International is the world's largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectualanddevelopmental disabilities(IDD). Our programs help people with IDD form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improvepublicspeaking, self-advocacyandcommunicationskills, and feelvaluedbysociety.

Mission

Best BuddiesInternational is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmentaldisabilities(IDD).

Who We Serve

The IDD communitythat Best Buddiesserves includes, but is not limitedto, peoplewith Down syndrome, autism, fragile X syndrome, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic braininjuryandotherundiagnoseddisabilities.

Programs BestBuddiesprogramssitonthethreekeymissionpillarsbelow: