2024 BB Palm Beach COY Program Book

Meet the Palm Beach Staff

Tricia

Williams, Regional Director

Danielle Erblat

Lead Transition Manager

Tyler Jasensky Lead Program Manager

Daniella De La Riva Deputy Director, Jobs & Transition

Torrance Bos Program Mana

Dear Friends,

Regional Director, Palm Beach

This eight-week philanthropic competition for Best Buddies in Palm Beach celebrates Best Buddies’ participants and community leaders throughout the Palm Beach and Treasure Coast communities who have been nominated as “Champions.” Their joint goal is to increase awareness of the mission of Best Buddies while simultaneously raising funds to sustain our programs. Concluding the eight-week campaign, all candid ates and their mission partners are being honored tonight at the Champion of the Year Gala. The Champion candidate who raises the most donations, surpassing all rivals in the competition, will take home the Crown of Inclusion and the title of Champion of the Year 2024. This year is very special as we aim to open the first Best Buddies Independent Living Program in Boca Raton. Additionally, funds raised by the Champions and proceeds from the Gala will directly benefit the existing local programs of Best Buddies in Palm Beach. This continues to help us create more friendships for students and adults, Integrated and open new pro and developmen Treasure Coast.

Thank you for supporting our Champion of the Year Gala!

Thank You To Our Sponsors! Presenting Sponsor

Signature Sponsor

Additional Sponsors

Tricia N. Williams

Thank You Thank You Thank You

Sarah Christy & Rick Colandreo, Co-Chairs

Tyrone Adras

Spencer Brown

Jim Dawson

Michael DeDonno

Dan Mangru

Deborah Searcy

Dan Labow

Annette Givens

Hope Gibson

Cara Pregadio

Thank you to our Table Sponsors how graciously sponsored a Buddy Pair to sit at their tables

Samantha Buchanan

Rick Colandreo

Anna Glennon

Jena Koepka

Chad Nelson

Carina Rodriguez

Quilleon Family & Friends

Volunteer Opportunities

Citizens

Friendship Walk Champion of the Year

We would love to have you join us and further your involvement with Best Buddies. If you are interested in joining one of our planning committees or simply learning more about Best Buddies, please contact Tyler Jasensky, Lead Program Manager, Volunteers. tylerjasensky@bestbuddies.org

*AS OF TIME OR PRINTING

How to Bid

Register:

Text COYPB to 243725

Bid From the Heart

The Value of Your Donation Supports

The Best Buddies Living program represents one of our organization’s five key mission pillars, Inclusive Living This program fosters an integrated experience for people with and without IDD to become active, contributing citizens who live independently in a dynamic environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive

$15,000

This donation will directly impact those applicants that are a perfect fit but can't afford the program.

We won't let the ability to pay get in the way of growth and independence.

$10,000

Cover the cost of the Residential Manager's support for a resident with IDD for one year.

The Residential Manager focuses on individualized independent living skills such as cooking, navigating roommate conflicts, money management, and health and wellness.

$5,000

Educational programming: This donation covers the educational programing for a location for a year!

$2,500

This will send all members of a Best Buddies Living location to our incredible leadership conference to joins Best Buddies leaders, volunteers, and community advocates from around the globe to imagine, create, lead and empower the future of the disability rights and inclusion movement.

$1,000

Cover a meal plan for 4 residents for one month. Residents can use this meal plan service along with gift cards to a local grocery store

$500

Training never stops! Cover the cost of a training in financial literacy, wellness and nutrition or cooking and kitchen safety.

Donate:

Fill out your information from the text received back

Donate: Fill out your information from the text received back

$250

*You can also bid in the silent auction once you’ve registered

Membership has its benefits! Each donation covers a month for a non-residential participant to join the community for weekly group dinners and all group events

2023 Champion of the Year

Melissa Taylor & Darian Testoni

Congratulations to Melissa on being named Champion of the Year! Melissa worked hard alongside Darian, and their efforts helped raise the secondhighest total in the country—an incredible achievement! From the moment she met Darian and his mother, Liz, their friendship blossomed.

Melissa's experience as a Best Buddies Champion has brought her immense joy. Her bond with Darian and his family has grown beyond the Gala, turning into a true friendship that embodies the Best Buddies mission of inclusion. Being meaningful connec organization.

We encourage eve strong friendships w even beyond the G

t t j i lif

Champions

Jeremy Broffman F. Patrick Connolly

Michael DeDonno

Kate Doster Hope Gibson Michael McCorkle

Chandra McKinney-Clarke Sarah Morgan Charlotte Nebbeling

an Sadlier

Mission Partners

This Year’s Entertainment

We are thrilled to showcase the incredible talents of our participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities through inspiring musical performances that celebrate their unique abilities and creativity.

Thee Autistic Genius: Lutalo and Nubia Reid

Emmanuel Parker Spencer Brown Hannah Zegel

Urijah Charping Tristan Joseph Keefer Quagliano

Charlie Truj Maragh Dax Cannon

Brandon Jackson

Chloe Thibault | Kate Roberts | Anelisse Lastre

Featuring

Brandon Jackson

Chloe Thibault | Kate Roberts | Anelisse Lastre

Featuring

Wesley Farrell

State Ambassador & Palm Beach Citizens Member

During Wesley’s ten-year journey with Best Buddies, from 2014 to 2024, he has had the privilege of participating in various initiatives. As a State Ambassador and a Palm Beach citizens member, Wesley’s experience has helped him achieve his personal goals while fostering deep, meaningful friendships along the way.

His journey highlights the importance of programs like Best Buddies Living, which empower individuals with and without IDD to live independently and thrive. Supporting these initiatives is essential to creating inclusive communities where everyone has the opportunity to grow, build friendships, and lead fulfilling, independent lives.

Bar Sponsor!

Supports

In support of Best

and the amazing things it does for the children in our community

The Dr. Anne H. Addington Foundation supports Sarah Morgan & Ronin Nance for 2024 Best Buddies Champion of the Year.

Buddies

The 2024 Champion of the Year In Palm Beach Gala

Proudly supports contributions made to Best Buddies by the North Palm Beach

Buddies Team in 2024!

THE GEO GROUP FOUNDATION

THE GEO GROUP FOUNDATION IS PROUD TO SPONSOR

IS PROUD TO SPONSOR

BEST BUDDIES OF PALM BEACH COUNTY

CityPlace com @cityplacerewards

FPL supports

for

In support of Best

Palm

Ana Rodriguez & London Maragh

2024 Best Buddies Champion of the Year.

Buddies in

Beach

04.26.2025 8:30 am | Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches

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).

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