Orlando Gala
Dear Friends,
On behalf of Best Buddies, we are honored to welcome you to the 2024 Champion of the Year Gala. Tonight is an evening of celebration, inspiration, and community as we recognize the remarkable efforts of our Champions who have spent the past months raising funds and awareness for Best Buddies.
TheChampionoftheYearcompetitionismorethanjustafriendlycontest it’s a powerful movement. Each of our Champions has worked tirelessly to advance our mission of inclusion, employment, leadership, and friendship for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) Through their efforts, they have not only brought in vital resources for our programs, but they’ve also sparked conversations and openeddoorsforindividualswhooftenfacebarriersinoursociety. Your presence here tonight means the world to us. By attending, you’re showing your support for these incredible Champions and for Best Buddies as a whole. Your generosity and participation make it possible for us to continue expanding our impact in schools, workplaces, and communitiesacrossCentralFloridaandbeyond.
As you experience the stories, auctions, and celebrations this evening, we hope you leave with a deeper understanding of what Best Buddies stands for and the lives we are touching. More importantly, we hope you leavewithyourcupfull filledwiththeinspiration,passion,andenergyto help us create a more inclusive world where everyone, regardless of ability,canlivealifeofpurposeandfriendship. Thankyouforbeingpartofthisspecialnight,forbelievinginourmission, and for your commitment to building a world where inclusion is not just a
Area Director
Thank You To Our Sponsors!
Event Planning Committee
Fabio, Zacco / BNY Mellon - Chair
Olivia Brown / Jonathan’s Landing - Co-Chair
Amanda Concelman / CSI-DMC - Auction Chair
Rebecca Grant / BNY Mellon - Auction Co-Chair
Kimberly Williams / Blue Cross Blue Shield - Logistics Chair
Alice Pierzo / Mother & Fundraiser - Sponsorship Chair
The Brooks Family
The Concelman Family
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
$10,000
• The Best Buddies Friendship Ball invites people with IDD to a memorable community dance; an experience from which they may otherwise be excluded. Create a magical evening where buddy pairs celebrate and have fun
$7,500
• Underwrite the employment support that Best Buddies Jobs provides a person with IDD, allowing him or her to find a job, become financially independent, receive benefits and work alongside others in the community
$5,000
• Bring together people with and without IDD for friendships that cultivate community-wide social inclusion, by funding a new school, citizens or corporate chapter in the Best Buddies Friendship Program
$2,500
• Fund an all day Ambassadors Training session for up to 50 people with and without IDD, where attendees will gain public speaking skills and confidence needed to champion for inclusion throughout their community
$1,000
• Give a student leader, ambassador or jobs participant the opportunity to attend Best Buddies Leadership Conference, where he or she will learn to advocate for him or herself and the larger IDD community
$250
• Support a one-to-one friendship between someone with IDD and his or her peer, helping to build a mutually enriching connection that enhances the lives of program participants and their families
Candidates
Lois Hale & Noli Muratovic
Melanie Gyorke & Justin Isaac
Leslie Haynes & Caitlyn Williamson
Garrison Cohen & Harold Torres
Alex Roach & Elyse Mundelein
Michael Dellaperuta & Wils Van Bergen
Terri Miskiv & Matthew Miskiv
Auction Donor List
The Elder Law Firm of Kirson & Fuller
Kendra Scott
Orlando Family Stage
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, Titanic:
The Artifact Exhibition, The Escape Game, Pirate Cove Adventure Golf, The Orlando Starflyer, Tru by Hilton Orlando Convention Center, Build a Bear Workshop
Craft Wealth Services
LA Fitness and Velvet Nail Bar 2
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
Florida Everblades
Dr. Phillips Center
Market to Table Cusine, Flanagans Sports
Pub, Applebees, Gators Dockside
The Elder Law Firm of Kirson & Fuller
Mary Kay
On Top Printing
The Crayola Experience, Foxtail Coffee Company, and Top Golf
4Rivers BBQ
HealthyU Massage and Float8 Wellness Lounge
Danny Lizardo Photography
Orlando Magic
SpaceCoast Sauces
Sonny's BBQ
The Elder Law Firm of Kirson & Fuller
Lindsay Isaac
All Fired Up
The Florida Aquarium and Zoo Tampa
Gourment Gift Baskets
Ronnie Coleman Signature Series
Cason Photography
Florida Everblades
Orlando Science Center and Game Time
Kiwi Strings
Lindsay Isaac
Crayola Experience and Butterfly World
Howl at the Moon
Breaking Barre
Cason Photography
Solar Bears
Rosen Shingle Creek
Tequila Veintiuno, Escape Cocoa
Beach, Cheers on the Beach, Henegar Theater, The Inn at Cocoa Beach.
Classic Pressure Washing and Window
Cleaning
Esthetics by Christina LLC
Fun Spot
4Rivers BBQ
Kairos Adventures
Cason Photography
Nicks Kids Foundations
DeOrio Family
DeOrio Family
Kings Dining and Entertainment
Francesco's Ristorante
Buff City Soap
Alex & Ani, Abilities workshop, and Misc
Off the Border, Ever Advanced, FloGrown, Wilson, Misc.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Fat Cat
Assortment
Melanie Gyorke
Isaac's
Caliope Street, Crayola, Airheads, Escape Game, Central Florida Community Arts.
Jeff's Bagel Run
The Joint Chiropractic
Publix, Oriental Trading, Amazon, Applebees, Office Max, Best Buy, Target, Gators Dockside.
Old Kinderhook Glass and Ritz Theater
Pampered Chef
The Bar Method
Wawa
Foxtail Coffee Company, Nothing
Bundt Cake, Jeremiahs, Pampered
Chef, Wondermade
Caribe Royale Orlando
Celeste Hotel
Drybar
Universal Orlando
Hard Rock Cafe
