Welcome to the Inaugural Champion of the Year “Gala en Blanc” for Best Buddies in the Roaring Fork Valley! Tonight we celebrate, recognize and uplift the valuable members in our communities who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Champion of the Year philanthropic competition for Best Buddies celebrates participants and community leaders who have been nominated as “Champions of Inclusion” to raise funds and increase awareness for the mission of Best Buddies. Throughout their campaign, these individuals have worked tirelessly to elevate our cause and tonight are being honored for their efforts. The Champion candidate who raises the most funds for Best Buddies, surpassing all rivals in this competition, will be named our first 2024 Champion of the Year for the Roaring Fork Valley!
All funds raised by the Champions along with the proceeds from this Gala, will directly benefit the local programs of Best Buddies in Colorado to create more friendships, develop leadership experiences, cultivate integrated employment opportunities and advance new programs for hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout the State. Thank you for your support of this worthy mission! We are thriving in the pursuit to provide meaningful connections for all abilities because of YOU - our donors and volunteers.
In Friendship
Rachael Fischer
Rachael Fischer State Director, Best Buddies in Colorado
Thank You To Our Sponsors!
Event Planning Committee
Carla Maresca Eichler, Event Chair | Alicia and Daniel Adams| Jane Becnel| Chuck & Brielle Block | Jamie Levitt & CJ Burger | Marla Butler | Chequers Home | Lauren & Ryan Elston | Aaron King | Mandy & Andy Welgos | The McLaughlin Team| Amy Mottier | Kimberly & Scott Resnick | Shelly & Barry Rosenberg | Drita & Ricky Rosin| Gus Oliver | Michelle and Ken Stiller |
Thank You To Our Signature Supporters!
Barry and Shelly Rosenberg
Jamie Levitt and CJ Burger
Donna Stockton
The Vandeboom Family
John Mahedy
The Hartman Family
Eliza Flug
Kimberly and Scott Resnick
Bruce Etkin and Laurel Gilbert
Mike and Lisa Haisfield
Tracy and Bubba Eggelston
Sarah Pegler
The Becnel Family
The Patterson Family
Cathy and Marc Bern
Ben Silverman
Marla and Larry Butler
Mandy and Matt Welgos
Gina and Gavin Beekman
Daniel Abrutyn
Champion Candidates
Anjuli DiMaria
Ann Perlmutter Lucas Snuffin
Nicky Ufkes
Nicole Vandeboom
Allessa Oliver
Roaring Fork Valley Avisory Board
R2 Partners
Employment Attorney Littler Mendelson, P C
Jake Olitsky, Buddy Director Software Developer Advocate for Autism at Work
Grayson Rutherford, Director of Events Director of Operations
Melanie Thulin, Volunteer Recruitment Guidance Counselor, Aspen School District
Meg Dangler, Volunteer Recruitment
Coordinator, Aspen Elementary
This Year's Entertainment
DJ Pamela Tick- DJ and Creative, Pamela Tick, exemplifies the meaning of multi-hyphenate. Pamela began her career in the fashion industry growing a large following on Instagram through assisting, styling & getting involved in NY’s greatest networking with brands and people. Pamela quickly picked up DJing and from there, her presence in front of the camera and on social media took off. Pamela’s look plays on polarity, toeing the line between ultra fem, with her signature waist length blonde hair and her cool, chic tomboy style. Pamela’s love for music is what brought her to DJ. After being told she has excellent music knowledge and a knack for starting a party, she began playing events in New York City and then soon started playing top events around the globe.
Silent and Live Auction
How to Bid
Register:
Text AspenCOY24 to (76278)
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
Bid From the Heart
The Value of Your Donation Supports
Best Buddies helps form meaningful friendships, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communications skills, all while feeling valued by society
$5,000
• A middle school, high school, or college Chapter for a year
• The cost of the room and food to host 250+ Best Buddies members to the statewide Friendship Ball
$2,500
• 10 buddy runners to participate in the ION Bank Cheshire Half Marathon or 5K or Team Best Buddies Relay
$1,000
• The cost to send a Buddy to the Leadership Conference (Registration and Air)
• A tent at the walk
• DJ or photo booth for a statewide Best Buddies event
$500
• Bus to transport a school chapter to the Friendship Walk or Friendship Ball
• Registration for a buddy to attend the Leadership Conference
• The cost of a flight to send a student leader to the Leadership Conference in Indiana
$350
• Citizens/Ambassador bowling party
• 1 buddy runner to participate in the ION Bank Cheshire Half Marathon
• The cost of buying t-shirts for a school chapter
$250
• The cost to send 4 buddies to the Buddy Ball
• The cost to send a buddy to the Party with a Purpose
• Transportation for 2 ambassadors to give public speeches
