Event Overview 6:00 PM Cocktail Reception and Silent Auction 7:00 PM Dinner 7:20 PM Program begins 7:45 PM Silent Auction closes 8:30 PM Silent & Live Auction checkout opens 9:30 PM The Grand Champion is announced!
Silent Auction Online Bidding Process How to register for the auction: Text SACCOY23 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/SACCOY23 or click on the text you received at check-in 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! I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your active involvement in the 2023 Champion of The Year Gala! Your unwavering enthusiasm and participation in Sacramento's inaugural Gala will make a profound impact. This historic event, marking the very first Gala in Sacramento, provided an extraordinary setting to celebrate our exceptional candidates and crown our inaugural Champion. Our Best Buddies Jobs program continues to flourish, connecting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to meaningful employment opportunities. We take pride in having empowered 20 individuals with IDD to secure positions in diverse competitive fields and in companies large and small throughout Sacramento. Our relentless efforts have been dedicated to assisting individuals with IDD in finding employment that aligns with their unique skills and passions. Our Friendship program now spans across 14 chapters, with a dedicated team of 7 trained Ambassadors and 2 Citizen matches. Best Buddies continues to leave an indelible impact on the people within Sacramento, granting both those with and without IDD the opportunity to cultivate meaningful, enduring friendships while fostering a sense of inclusion within their communities. I would like to offer special recognition to my fellow advisory board members, and the dedicated Best Buddies staff whose unwavering commitment has played an integral role in the resounding success of this event. To our Champions and Mission Partners, your unwavering dedication to our mission, infectious enthusiasm for this event, and willingness to lend a helping hand to others are deeply appreciated. In friendship, Becca Cross Sacramento Advisory Board Chair
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!
Candidates
KATINA AITKENS
JEFF ALDEGHI
KAITLYN KROWEL
ASHLEE PATEL
LILLY PERAZZO
SOFIA SANCHEZ
CHRISTINA SUNTHONLAP
MEGHAN TOLAND
Mission Partners
TONY ZOGOPOULOS
RENEE ALDEGHI
TYLER SIERRAS
SAMMY CHRISTY
TYLER SALAZAR
JENNIFER VARANINI
TOMMY RUIZ
MARIA HERNANDEZ
ONE-TO-ONE FRIENDSHIPS
INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
INCLUSIVE LIVING
HISTORY
MISSION
dedicated to ending the social, physical,
501(c)(3) organization dedicated to
and economic isolation of the 200 million
establishing a global volunteer movement
people with intellectual and
that creates opportunities for one-to-one
developmental disabilities (IDD).
friendships, integrated employment,
Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver,
leadership development, and inclusive
Best Buddies has grown from one
living for individuals with intellectual and
original chapter to nearly 2,900 chapters
developmental disabilities (IDD).
We are the world's largest organization
Best Buddies International is a nonprofit
worldwide, positively impacting the lives of over 1.25 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
WHO WE SERVE
communities that its current efforts and services will be unnecessary. Until that
The IDD community that Best Buddies
vision becomes a reality, the organization
serves includes, but is not limited to,
will continue to educate students,
people with Down syndrome, autism,
community members, corporations, and
Fragile X, Williams syndrome, cerebral
employers about the emotional,
palsy, traumatic brain injury, and other
functional, and natural needs and abilities
undiagnosed disabilities.
of people with IDD.
Sacramento Friendship Chapters, Jobs Placements, & Ambassadors
Elementary School Chapters Cameron Ranch ES High School Chapters Antelope HS Center HS Davis HS Granite Bay HS Mira Loma HS Natomas HS Oakmont HS Rio Americano HS West Park HS Whitney HS Woodcreek HS College Chapters California State University, Sacramento University of California, Davis
Jobs Placements Accenture Elk Grove School District Goodwill Sacramento Children’s Museum Sharkey’s Hair Cuts for Kids Target Ambassadors Alexander Camacho Katina Aitkens Kaylee Jones America Miranda Tyler Sierras Caroline Van Zant Magdeline Zogopoulos
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 Conduct a practice interview for a jobseeking participant. We'll provide the interview questions, you ask away!
JOIN A CAREER PANEL Chat with Best Buddies participants about your job and offer advice on how to enter into your career field.
TEACH A JOB SKILL Promote workplace readiness by teaching job skills to participants who are seeking competitive employment.
INVOLVE YOUR EMPLOYER 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.
Sacramento Advisory Board Los Angeles Advisory San Francisco Advisory Board Board Thank you for your leadership and dedication to our programs all year long!
Becca Cross, Board Chair
Katina Aitkens
Danielle Christy
Cynthia Hextell
Tammy Hinds
Kaylee Jones
Tyler Sierras
Kim Trigueiro
Caroline Van Zant
Magdeline Zogopoulos
Tony Zogopoulos
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.
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. Scan the QR code to learn more about Team Rosemary & The Bridge!
Walk. Celebrate. Support. April 27th, 2024 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/SACRAMENTO
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING INCLUSION!