MN COY Program Book

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Best Buddies in Minnesota‘s 5th Annual Champion of the Year Gala! Thank you for spending the evening celebrating inclusion with Best Buddies. Although we’re celebrating our Champions and Mission Partners tonight, we’re also celebrating you. You are an advocate for inclusion, and tonight we’re raising the funds and awareness to create more friendships, build more self-confidence, and create

more memories with our best buddies. So here’s to you! Thank you for believing in and supporting our mission. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue growing inclusion for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities across the state of Minnesota with you.

hashtag #LetInclusionGrow and tag @bestbuddiesmn to share

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Thank You Sponsors!

Event Committee

Stated in our mission, Best Buddies is a volunteer-led movement. The work we do would not be possible without the support of individuals who believe in the power of inclusion and understand what it takes to bring an idea to life. For the past year, this group has been working tirelessly to ensure that our fifth annual gala is a night to remember.

Sam Arnold / Twin Cities Orthopedics

Paige Dobberstein / St. Thomas Law Student

Dana Feld / Nature’s Way

Katie Gross / Saint Mary’s University Graduate Student

Sarah Halls / Hopkins Public Schools

Megan Melroe / Entrust

Jessica Scheu / UnitedHealthcare

2021 Champion of the Year

Mikayla Holmgren

Raised

$28,247

Mikayla Holmgren is our reigning Grand Champion of the Year! She is a 2023-2024 Best Buddies Global Ambassador, model, dancer, keynote speaker, past Fashion Week Minnesota board member, Miss Stillwater USA, Miss Amazing Queen, and self-advocate.

Mikayla was a driving force in starting the Best Buddies Minnesota chapter five years ago and is still involved with all things Best Buddies. Mikayla produces a yearly fashion show, Dreaming Big Without Limits, that benefits Best Buddies, speaks at events throughout the community often, and, frankly, continues making history! She is the first woman with Down syndrome to participate in any state Miss USA pageant and audition for Sports Illustrated. She has won the well-deserved Miss Congeniality Award voted in by her peers in 2018, The People's Choice Award, and The Spirit of Miss USA in 2021.

Mikayla does not let having Down syndrome stop her from achieving greatness she describes herself as a dancer, model, and activist with “a little Down syndrome on the side.” You can follow Mikayla’s journey on Instagram, at @mikholmgren_inspiring_others!

2022 Champion Candidates

Each of these individuals has committed countless hours over the last several weeks to raise funds and awareness for Best Buddies Minnesota. The time, energy and passion they have given is admirable and we are honored to celebrate them tonight.

Champions, it is a direct result of your efforts that more people than ever know of and support Best Buddies in Minnesota. The entire Best Buddies team and Event Committee is immensely grateful for your commitment and dedication to our mission of inclusion.

Patrick Elmore

Corey Hughes

Smith

Shay

Sonya Roe

Jones

Burnett

2022 Mission Partners

Best Buddies believes that having someone to lean on and cheer you on is the best way to reach your goals, so we brought that to Champion of the Year with Mission Partners this year!

Each of these individuals has a connection to Best Buddies and were paired with a Champion Candidate to cheer them on, help spread the word about their campaigns and share more about the impact of Best Buddies. Thank you Mission Partners for relentlessly working to make the world a more inclusive place!

Jessica Scheu

Tasha Feigh

Holmgren

Gross

Allie Henley

Shannon Skipper

Heywood

Camille Nelson

Brinkman

The Value of Your Donation

Best Buddies helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities form meaningful friendships, secure successful jobs, live independently, advocate for themselves and improve communications skills, all while feeling valued by society.

$5,000 | Gift of Friendship

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

$2,500 | Training Day

Fund an all-day Ambassadors training session for up to 50 people with and without IDD, where attendees will gain the public speaking skills and confidence needed to champion for inclusion throughout their community.

$1,000 | Prepare Future Advocates

Give a student leader, Ambassador or Jobs participant the opportunity to attend the annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference, where he or she will learn to advocate for him or herself and the larger IDD community.

$500 | Support a Buddy Pair

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.

$250 | Inclusive Chapter Activities

Fund a group activity for a school or adult friendship program. Support school and community friendships by covering the cost of a fun, safe and inclusive activity or outing for the whole chapter.

$100 | e-Buddies Connection

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.

Speakers & Entertainment

A.J. Hilton | Emcee

A.J. Hilton lives by those words -- and that's brought him home to Minnesota. He attended Apple Valley High School before graduating from the University of Minnesota. His career in journalism has taken him from covering one the largest commercial yak operations in the country to protests over social unrest, and experiencing sit down interviews with former presidents to college national championships. Being back in Minnesota -- at a station A.J. grew up watching -- is an honor and privilege he doesn't take for granted. He loves helping people get their day started with the information they need, a little positivity and some lighthearted fun.

Excelsior Elementary School | Program Highlight

Excelsior Elementary School located in Excelsior, Minnesota was the very first elementary school in Minnesota to implement the Best Buddies Elementary Schools program in early 2022 as part of a district wide initiative from Minnetonka Public Schools to partner with Best Buddies. Through the leadership of Best Buddies Advisor, Kelly Pederson, every classroom at Excelsior Elementary, kindergarten through 5th grade, participates in Best Buddies’ kindness, inclusion and disability awareness curriculum. Excelsior Elementary has become a model Best Buddies chapter across the country for their dedication to teaching inclusion at a young age and encouraging whole school participation in the Best Buddies’ mission of inclusion.

Pair Speakers

Katie and Courtney, both St. Paul residents, joined the Best Buddies adult friendship program, called Best Buddies Citizens, hoping to find greater connection and friendship. When they were officially matched as buddies in February this year they not only became fast friends, but have developed a deeper, life-changing ‘sisterhood’, as Katie’s calls it. Together, Courtney and Katie enjoy going out to eat, going to movies and having picnics!

"If you don't know where you're going, you'll never know if you got there."

Katie Brinkman and Courtney Burnett | Buddy

Dan Masloski | Auctioneer

Dan Masloski has once again been labeled the most energetic auctioneer in the Midwest, where he’s been doing auctions for the past 21 years. Dan is a teacher by profession, an auctioneer by night, and dedicates his life to his three wonderful children. Making a difference in every aspect of his life, Dan has served on many professional boards, chaired community committees, and currently serves on his school’s building leadership team as he continues to give back to so many. Dan’s "love of life" comes through in his warm smile at every auction appearance.

Anna, 17, and Emily, 15, are a sister duo that have been playing the harp for a combined 20 years! Anna started playing when she was just 4 years old and Karen Lundmark Holmes award for the Minnesota Orchestra's YPSCA competition and is a finalist for the second year in a row for the Minnesota Youth Symphonies Solo Competition which will take place this November. Emily is focusing on learning many of her pieces with two hands and did a fantastic job at her recent half book recital. Anna enjoys reading and writing in her spare time and Emily enjoys Special Olympics Rhythmic Gymnastics and her participation in

Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota DJ, producer, singer, rapper, and fitness educator Omaur Bliss titled debut album in 2005 and has been a prominent performer ever since. In recent years, Omaur Bliss has undergone an evolution, becoming a "Master of Ceremonies" in all aspects. Whether DJing a high energy dance party, leading a relaxed yoga event, or hosting an elegant gala, Omaur Bliss has emerged as a DJ and performer who can connect, energize, and move crowds of any demographic and age.

Courtney Burnett

Courtney Burnett is a hospital medicine physician at Regions Hospital in Saint Paul. She also happens to live with malignant brain cancer. Since the time of her cancer diagnosis in 2020, she has spent her time outside of medicine as an author, motivational speaker, and advocate for brain cancer and disability awareness.

Her blog at www.elephantlotusbraintumor.com and her first published book, Difficult Gifts: A Physician's Journey to Heal Body and Mind, are platforms she uses to share hope, inclusivity, and mindfulness. Courtney learned of Best Buddies while speaking at a corporate event for JLL, a national partner of Best Buddies. After speaking, Courtney was inspired to start volunteering with the Best Buddies Citizens program, where she met her friend (and mission partner!) Katie.

Courtney is joined by her Mission Partner, Katie Brinkman.

Patrick Elmore

Patrick Elmore is a graduate of Bethel University in their BUILD Program, where he earned a certificate in business. Patrick now works at s Sporting Goods as a greeter. Patrick joined the Best Buddies Minnesota Citizens program over a year and half ago, where he was matched with his buddy and mission partner Jess.

Since then, Patrick has attended participated in many Best Buddies events such as past Galas and Friendship Walks. Patrick accepted his Champion of the Year nomination from Jess, and graciously accepted the nomination because of his past experiences being bullied in school. He feels that if everyone had Best Buddies, a lot of bullying in schools would stop.

Patrick is joined by his Mission Partner, Jessica Scheu.

Corey Hughes

Corey Hughes is a senior at the University of Minnesota studying Special Education. Originally from Wisconsin, Corey has spent the past four years living in Minneapolis. She has been part of Best Buddies for nearly a decade in high school, she developed a one-to-one friendship with three individuals which genuinely changed her life.

During her second year of college at UMN, Corey started a Best Buddies chapter that has more than 60 members and she is the president of. When she was nominated for Champion of the Year, she was shocked, and accepted with gratitude. Corey believes that Best Buddies is a life changing organization, and wants to spread its message to others.

Corey is joined by her Mission Partner, Tasha Feigh.

Michaela Jones

Michaela Jones is a pediatric occupational therapist and has worked with kids in a variety of settings over the past eight years. Currently, she works at Spero Academy, a special education school in Minneapolis, as an occupational therapist. Michaela got involved with Best Buddies Minnesota after attending the first Champion of the Year Gala and has been volunteering at various events ever since. She is grateful to be matched with her mission partner, Camille, and very excited to spread the word about inclusion throughout the community.

Michaela is joined by her Mission Partner, Camille Nelson.

Kerry Larson

Kerry Larson has been involved in Best Buddies for about a year, though she has been an advocate for inclusion, acceptance, and possibility for nearly two decades. She started out ensuring that her youngest son, Aiden, has been given those opportunities in school and activities. Kerry also enjoys working with families of children with disabilities. One way Kerry helps families is by creating introductions—a positive introduction of the family member that helps create a relationship with others beyond the disability.

Kerry enjoys spending time outdoors especially biking, hiking and walking the family dogs with her husband James. She has two sons, Jakob and Aiden. She is grateful for this opportunity to support Best Buddies and excited for her Champion of the year nomination!

Kerry is joined by her Mission Partner, Allie Henley.

Kaitlyn Peterson

Kaitlyn Peterson is a Lakeville North High School graduate who sings, models, and loves to sign with ASL. Kaitlyn was one of the first disabled individuals to walk the runway in Minnesota Fashion Week in both 2019 and 2021. She was also featured in the look book, and was crowned Minnesota Miss Amazing Junior Miss Queen in 2020.

Kaitlyn serves as a Best Buddies Minnesota Ambassador, and is a founding member of the Citizens program. She hopes that every school in Minnesota will eventually have a Best Buddies program. If it wasn’t for Best Buddies, Kaitlyn doesn’t think that she would’ve met her best friend, and mission partner, Grace. Kaitlyn wants to thank Best Buddies for all the fun experiences she has had with them.

Kaitlyn is joined by her Mission Partner, Grace Heywood.

Sonya Roe

Sonya Roe is a special education teacher, and has been one for nearly 30 years. She has been involved with the Eastview High School chapter of Best Buddies Minnesota since it was founded in 2005. She has watched so many lives change through the power of inclusion and friendship. All three of her children are involved with Best Buddies: her oldest daughter is in the Citizens program, her middle child is involved in the Iowa State University chapter, and her youngest started the first Best Buddies middle school chapter in Minnesota just last year. Sonya is humbled to be a Champion of the Year candidate and is very excited to share her passion for Best Buddies.

Sonya is joined by her Mission Partner, Shannon Skipper.

Kerri Shay

Kerri Shay is an employee at Lunds & Byerlys in Eden Prairie, where she works as a cashier. Kerri has been involved with Best Buddies for the past two and a half years. She is a Best Buddies Minnesota Ambassador, and is involved in the Citizens program where she is matched with her buddy and friend, Libby. She also has ran for Champion of the Year once before, and served on the Friendship Walk committee. When Kerri is not doing Best Buddies-related activities, she loves to spend time with her boyfriend and friends from church. Kerri gladly accepts her nomination, and thanks her boyfriend for nominating her!

Kerri is joined by her Mission Partner, Katie Gross

Brianna Smith

Brianna is a recent graduate from St. Kate’s, where she double majored in Biology and Philosophy. She also was Miss Minnesota International 2018! She is an enthusiastic volunteer with Best Buddies Minnesota and has been passionate about inclusion since middle school where she met her childhood best friend, Sarah, who has Down syndrome. She is so happy to accept her nomination to continue spreading the word about inclusion and activism!

Brianna is joined by her Mission Partner, Mikayla Holmgren.

In

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