Thank You To Our Sponsors!
Best Buddies Advisory Board
Ryan Smithson
Anita Phillips, PhD
Jacob Verchereau, Esq.
Meet The Advisory Board I joined the board for Best Buddies because I strongly believe in community service; this is one more way I can give back and support a purposeful mission in the Capital Region. My uncle Norman is developmentally delayed, but it's never stopped him from making friends or working hard, and he's even participated in the Special Olympics several times! He's an inspiration and a close reminder of why I support Best Buddies and their efforts to change lives like his every day. -Ryan Smithson, State Government at T-Mobile
Why am I passionate about Best Buddies? Wow, there are so many reasons! It’s FUN and focused on all the right things, including empowerment, special abilities, and meaningful friendships! There is so much joy in the atmosphere during events/activities and a true sense of community. It’s an absolute honor to be surrounded by such inclusive, progressive people living their best lives and supporting each other to do the same! -Anita Phillips, PhD, Licensed Psychologist at NYS OPWDD
For approximately fifteen years, I have advocated for k-12 students with developmental delays and other disabilities, doing my best to ensure they receive an appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. I have often fought for the rights of disabled students to be included in classrooms and programs alongside their non-disabled peers. I have seen the academic progress, social & emotional growth, and other benefits disabled students receive when they are included with and educated alongside their typical peers as much as possible. I passionately support Best Buddies and its mission to maximize inclusion for students, children, and adults with disabilities. -Jacob Verchereau, Esq., Associate Attorney at Pierro, Connor & Strauss LLC.
Bid From the Heart Best Buddies within the Capital Region is proud to help form meaningful friendships and leadership development skills for our friends with and without IDD. With your continued support, today we benefit over 1,900 students and adults with and without IDD through our community. $5,000 Bring together people with and without IDD for friendships that cultivate community inclusion. With your $5,000 gift, Shannon can open a new school within our Friendship Program! $2,500 Fund an all-day Ambassadors training session for up to 50 attendees with and without IDD, where attendees gain public speaking skills and the confidence needed to advocate for inclusion within our community. $1,000 Send a student leader or Ambassador to the 2024 Best Buddies Leadership Conference in Indiana, where they’ll learn to advocate for themselves and the IDD community! Caroline, Liana, and Michael represented the Capital Region at the 2023 Leadership Conference! $500 Grow the 2024 Friendship or Boo Ball! These programmatic events provide a vibrant platform for school friendship participants to come together for a fun day of inclusion, dancing, and friendships that create lasting memories. $250 Host a Citizens (Adult-Based Friendship) event! With your $250 gift, Shannon and the Citizen’s Advisory Board can plan an expanded or additional social event. Our recent events include A Valley Cat’s game and a community picnic at The Crossings.
2022 Champion of the Year
Trinity Hogben & Meg Phelps Trinity & Megan, our 2022 Champions of the Year, are always ready to celebrate friendship, inclusion, and a good time. When they met and joined Best Buddies in 7th grade, it changed their lives. They met each other in gym class, and at the time, Meg was selectively mute and was often by herself during class. After Trinity introduced herself, they got to know each other, and before long, their friendship grew. After joining Best Buddies together, we were supported by people who were also interested in growing similar friendships and inclusion. Now, nine years later, Meg is fully verbal, and both Trinity and Meg are involved not only in Best Buddies and in each other's lives but in our schools and the community. Last summer, Meg and Trinity were approached by Kate Nitti and were asked to be a 2022 Champion of the Year Candidate for Best Buddies. Through generous support from their families and communities, Meg and Trinity raised over $10,000 and were crowned the 2022 Champions of the Year!
2023 Champion of the Year Candidates
2023 Mission Partners
This Year's Entertainment
DJ Ketchup
Steve Keller of T.L. Holloway
How to Bid Register: Text ALBCOY23 to 76278 or visit https://ALBCOY23.givesmart.com Donate: Text the word GIVE and amount (dollar sign not required) to 76278 *You can also bid in the silent auction once you’ve registered
Meet Our Hosts Billy Floyd, Emcee and Auctioneer Best Buddies is undoubtedly the best community you could be a part of! Everyone supports, appreciates and celebrates you at the highest level. I’m grateful to be a part of a team that does such an incredible job of including others and pushing positivity!
Stephanie Skinner, Miss NY Teen USA Stephanie Skinner is a student at the Wharton School of Business and the author of the Children’s book “Holding Hands with Hope” who holds the title of Miss New York Teen USA 2023. For the past 6 years, Stephanie strives to create places where inclusion thrives by serving the IDD community which is why she loves Best Buddies and their efforts to inspire acceptance on a global scale. She is grateful to be a part of a community where inclusion is universal!
Walk. Celebrate. Support.
4.14.24 Crossgates Mall | 8:00am The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading walk in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (also known as IDD). BESTBUDDIESFRIENDSHIPWALK.ORG//ALBANY
Kate Nitti Desmond Deputy Director of Development Katenitti@bestbuddies.org