Event Overview 6:00 PM Cocktail Reception & Silent Auction 7:00 PM Dinner is served 7:20 PM Program begins 7:45 PM Silent Auction closes 8:30 PM Silent & Live Auction checkout opens 9:00 PM The Grand Champion is announced!
Silent Auction Online Bidding Process How to register for the auction: Text LACOY23 to 243725 How to find an item: You can find items by pressing any one of the buttons on the main menu or by using the search bar to find a specific item or category How to bid on an item: 1. Find the item 2. Select it 3. Press on bid How to find the items you bid on: Items you have bid on can be found at Menu > Your Activity How to set up automatic biding: After submitting a bid, you will be prompted to set a max bid. When you’ve been outbid, it will automatically bid on your behalf up to the max bid amount you set, using the bid increments provided How to tell if you were outbid: You will receive a text message when you’ve been outbid Alternatively, navigate to “your activity” to check the status of your bids
Online Donation Process How to donate: Go to Bidpal.net/LACOY23 or click on the text you received at checkin Click on the "Donate Now" button Choose your amount or easily enter a custom one on your own Confirm your donation - you may be prompted to enter a credit card at this time if you did not provide one at registration
Welcome Friends of Best Buddies! As Chair of the Best Buddies Advisory Board for Los Angeles, I am deeply honored to extend a warm welcome to our 2023 gala. We've put together an unforgettable evening, one filled with inspiration and great moments, and I hope you're prepared to be both touched and entertained. During my tenure on the Los Angeles Advisory Board, I've had the privilege of connecting with numerous individuals whose lives have been transformed by Best Buddies. The more I've learned about the services provided, the commitment to supporting those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and the genuine care and admiration for the individuals involved, the prouder I've become to be associated with this incredible organization. Best Buddies is all about fostering relationships, promoting independence, and nurturing self-worth. I trust that you'll find the impact it has on people's lives as inspiring as I do. My introduction to Best Buddies occurred when my law firm, Holland & Knight, hired someone from the Best Buddies jobs program. Amir Geva, the person we brought on board, not only showed me how Best Buddies can transform a person's life but also illustrated how individuals with IDD can make substantial contributions to any organization. Over the past nine years, Amir has become an invaluable member of our office team, and Best Buddies has continued to work with him, providing leadership training and tools to boost his confidence and sociability. Tonight, we will spotlight remarkable individuals who have played pivotal roles in enabling Best Buddies to continue its vital work with people who have IDD. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of this year's Champion of the Year candidates, and we are continually inspired by their dedication. I encourage you to explore our auction items, make new friends, and delve deeper into the workings of this remarkable organization. Best Buddies is a global leader in fostering acceptance and societal inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and we are thrilled that you've chosen to join us this evening. Warm regards,
Karl Lott
Karl J. Lott Chair, Los Angeles Advisory Board
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! Presenting Partner
Gold Partners
Silver Partner
2022 Champion of the Year Carlos Lopezleon
Raised over $25,000 for Best Buddies in Los Angeles!
Candidates
Nancy Albin & Guido Piccarolo
Dustyn Burns
Dylan DiGerolamo
Steve Feller
Garin Flowers
Max McGinley & Karen Hardy
Shannon Harris
Elizabeth & Doug Hedenberg
Tiffany Johnson
August B. Kohn
Elizabeth Lopezleon
Victor Morales
Richard Nakai
Branden & Deneisha Nicholson
Adam Nusbaum
Jason Rocha
Courtney Sixx
Sashan Umashankar
Kristen Van Handel
Matthew Von Der Ahe
Mission Partners
Evan Martin
Kim Roehricht & Kara Johnson
Jason B.
Donovan Turner
Vanessa Ocana
Jamil McCullough
Katie Mayo
Jamie Brewer
Max Masius
Elisa Lopezleon, Carlos Lopezleon, and Sha Price
Lisa Koskovich
Nataliya Mehta
Calvin Carrillo
Marc & Sean Dobry
Alex Totah
Caley Versfelt
Mahat Chandra
Judy Van Handel
Emily Levine
Thank you, Office Depot!
Crescent Capital is a proud employer partner to Best Buddies!
www.discountmedicalca.com
In Loving Memory of Byron Cole Best Buddies Jobs Program Participant employed for 10 years at Team One
“Byron Cole was an integral part of the Team One Office Services team and the Team One family for over 10 years. He was the first person Team One employees saw at the office each day - there to greet you with a huge smile and ask how you were doing. To know him was truly to love him.”
ONE-TO-ONE FRIENDSHIPS
INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
INCLUSIVE LIVING
HISTORY
MISSION
dedicated to ending the social, physical, and
(3) organization dedicated to establishing a
economic isolation of the 200 million people
global volunteer movement that creates
with intellectual and developmental disabilities
opportunities for one-to-one friendships,
(IDD). Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver,
integrated employment, leadership
Best Buddies has grown from one original
development, and inclusive living for
chapter to nearly 2,900 chapters worldwide,
individuals with intellectual and developmental
positively impacting the lives of over 1.25
disabilities (IDD).
We are the world's largest organization
Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)
million people with and without IDD. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 states and 54 countries around the world.
VISION
To put Best Buddies out of business. Best Buddies envisions a world where people with IDD are so successfully integrated into schools, workplaces, and communities that its
WHO WE SERVE
current efforts and services will be unnecessary. Until that vision becomes a
The IDD community that Best Buddies serves
reality, the organization will continue to
includes, but is not limited to, people with
educate students, community members,
Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams
corporations, and employers about the
syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain
emotional, functional, and natural needs and
injury, and other undiagnosed disabilities.
abilities of people with IDD.
LA, OC, LB Friendship Chapters & Jobs Placements Elementary School Chapters Killybrooke Elementary School Palisades Elementary School Prisk Elementary School Thomas Jefferson Elementary School Westside Elementary School Middle School Chapters Ruth O Harris Middle School Las Palmas Middle School Shorecliffs Middle School Palm Middle School Suzanne Middle School
High School Chapters Alta Loma High School Alexandar Hamilton High School Aliso Niguel High School Archer School for Girls Arroyo Valley High School Azusa High School Beaumont High School Bloomington High School Brea Olinda High School Brentwood High School Buckley School Cajon High School Canyon High School Capistrano Valley High School Cate School Citrus Valley High School Claremont High School Corona Del Mar High School Cresenta Valley High School Cypress High School Dana Hills High School David Starr Jordan High School Diamond Bar High School
Edgewood High School Etiwanda High School Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School Geffen Academy Glen A. Wilson High School Glendale High School Glendora High School Grand Terrace High School Granite Hills High School Harvard Westlake Upper School Highland High School Indian Springs High School Irvine High School John F. Kennedy High School Jserra Catholic High School La Canada High School Larchmont High School LB poly High School Loara High School Los Osos High School Malibu High School Marlborough High School McBride High School Mission Viejo High School Norte Vista High School Oakwood Secondary School Orange County School of the Arts Pacific High School Palos Verdes Peninsula High School Rancho Cucamonga High School San Clemente High School San Juan Hills High School Santiago High School Sonora High School South High School Temescal Canyon High School Tesoro High School Trabuco Hills High School Troy High School Venice High School Villa Park High School Walnut High School Wilson High School Yucaipa High School
College Chapters California University of Science and Medicine CSUF CSULB UCI UCLA UCR UCSB USC
Job Placements Accenture - Los Angeles AMC – Marina Pacifica AMC Norwalk 20 Big Lots Blink Fitness Bristol Farms CAVA CB Orthodontics Candified Career Group Companies City of Los Angeles Mayor's Office of Economic Opportunity Conill Advertising Crescent Capital Crypto Arena Dana Middle School Dignity Health Sports Park – Levy Restaurants Disneyland Resort Doggie Daycare and...More! Entertainment Industry Foundation Fiji Water First Class Vending Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman Harbor Regional Center Holland & Knight Honeybee Health Iron Mountain JLL @ Amazon Kaiser South Bay Medical Center
Katella Bakery Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, LP Latham & Watkins Lowes Lululemon McDonald's MOD MOD Pizza Morrisson Health Care, Long Beach Memorial Center Nike Office Depot Paradigm Participant Media Portview Preparatory Propagate Content Rayas Law Ralph's Sakura Finetek USA, Inc. Santa Margarita Catholic High School Sephora Seyfarth Shaw Smart & Final Snap Inc. Sprouts – Norwalk Starbucks – Carson TDS Logistics, LLC The Merchant Total Transportation Services UCLA Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine UCLA Housing & Hospitality Urban Decay (L'Oreal) Vons Walt Disney Television Westside Regional Center William Morris Endeavor
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES One-to-One Friendship JOIN A CHAPTER
JOIN CITIZENS (18+)
Join an existing school chapter! We have clubs at schools with & without special education programs.
Make a friend while participating in inclusive activities with adults with and without IDD in your local area.
START A CHAPTER
JOIN E-BUDDIES
Be an inclusion leader by starting a chapter! Receive support from Best Buddies staff every step of the way.
Sign up for our email-based pen pal program. E-Buddies is available starting October 1, 2021.
Integrated Employment HOST A MOCK INTERVIEW
TEACH A JOB SKILL
Conduct a practice interview for a jobseeking participant. We'll provide the interview questions, you ask away!
Promote workplace readiness by teaching job skills to participants who are seeking competitive employment.
JOIN A CAREER PANEL
INVOLVE YOUR EMPLOYER
Chat with Best Buddies participants about your job and offer advice on how to enter into your career field.
Share the mission by encouraging your employer to participate in Best Buddies events and programs.
Leadership Development BECOME AN AMBASSADOR Attend an ambassador training to learn speech writing, public speaking, and advocacy skills.
BRING AN AMBASSADOR TO YOUR COMMUNITY Invite an ambassador to speak about inclusion at your school or workplace!
BE A SPEECH COACH
HOST A TRAINING
Attend a training as a speech coach to support an individual on their journey to becoming an ambassador.
Get a group together to level up your leadership. We provide the content, you lead the training!
Signature Events & Advisory Board JOIN A COMMITTEE
ATTEND THE FRIENDSHIP WALK
Support the event planning process by joining a committee. Assist with logistics, publicity, sponsorships, and more!
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). Register today at BestBuddiesFriendshipWalk.org!
JOIN A LOCAL ADVISORY BOARD Advisory board members commit to a two-year term where they utilize their skills and connections to expand our reach at the local level. *There is an application and interview process for this volunteer opportunity.
A
B I G
Thank You T O
O U R
A N N U A L
D O N O R S
Named in honor of Anthony’s aunt, Rosemary Kennedy, Team Rosemary is Best Buddies’ major-giving society dedicated to providing life-changing opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through the promotion of life-long friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living. The contributions of Team Rosemary members empower us to create transformative opportunities and foster inclusivity for individuals with IDD. Andrew Berman • Jeffrey Michael • Karl Lott • William Neiman
The Bridge is a community of devoted Best Buddies supporters, formed when individuals commit to a monthly gift, dedicated to building connections between people with and without IDD. This community of supporters bridges the gap so that individuals of all abilities are included in society. Their generosity empowers us to build meaningful connections between individuals with and without IDD, creating a more inclusive world. Kathleen Beltran • Karl Lott • Vanessa Ocana • Ben Scott
Los Board Los Angeles Advisory SanAngeles FranciscoAdvisory Advisory Board Board Thank you for your leadership and dedication to our programs all year long!
Karl Lott, Board Chair Partner Holland & Knight
Shawn Egan
Judene Small Jean-Louis
Karen Leder
Sr. Programmatic Account Manager | Google
Partner, Cultural Leadership Fund | Andreessen Horowitz
Founder & Chief Creative Officer | Leder Group
Emily Levine
Carlos Lopezleon
Elissa McClure
Senior Vice President Career Group Companies
District Sales Manager Office Depot
Partner Holland & Knight
John Poulos
Ben Scott, Board Vice-Chair
Greg Pearson Managing Director Fortress Investment Group
Development Associate Propagate
Director of Administration Simpson Thacher
Walk. Celebrate. Support.
April 6th, 2023
ShoreLine Aquatic Park 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). Funds raised at the Friendship Walks help move our mission forward by funding local Best Buddies programs. It also provides a unique opportunity to see our mission in action at the local level. Every dollar raised goes towards making the world a more inclusive, accepting place.
BESTBUDDIESFRIENDSHIPWALK.ORG/LOSANGELES
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING INCLUSION!