Dear Friends, As we celebrate this evening, we would like to thank you and all our supporters for the tremendous work you do for the mission of inclusion. We’ve all had a hard hit over the last few years, but are so thrilled that we can be back together and Reunited for Inclusion! The joint goal of all our Champions is to increase awareness for the mission of Best Buddies while simultaneously raising funds to sustain our programs. Concluding the ten-week campaign, all candidates 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 title of Grand Champion for 2023. Funds raised by the Champions and proceeds from the Gala will directly benefit the local programs of Best Buddies Southwest Florida to create more friendships for students and adults, develop leadership opportunities, and open new programs for hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities within the Southwest Florida Community. Thank you for supporting our Champion of the Year gala!
Pamela Conner Pamela Conner Area Director, Southwest Florida
Bid From the Heart The Value of Your Donation Supports things like 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. We thank the Green Rassoul Family for sharing their story with us! $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 • Citizens Bash for our Citizens Chapter $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 • 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 • The cost of a pizza party for a school chapter
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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 IDD through the promotion of life-long friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living.
Jennifer Denike | Fort Myers Resident The Bridge Jennifer has been a longtime supporter and volunteer of Best Buddies and an amazing buddy to our Champion Candidate, Nicole Coratti. We appreciate you and thank you for all your support!
Iain Mossman | Naples Resident Team Rosemary Iain is a longtime supporter of Best Buddies and a former member of the Best Buddies Advisory Board. Thank you for all your support!
When you commit to a recurring gift, you become a member of The Bridge – a group of dedicated Best Buddies supporters who help build connections between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). If you’d like to participate in either of these programs, please email pamelaconner@bestbuddies.org for more information.
2021 Champion of the Year
Laura Georgelos with Mission Partner & Daughter, Tori Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Laura has been a realtor for 20 years and has made Naples her home. She has tirelessly advocated for the developmentally disabled in both communities inspired by her developmentally different daughter, Tori. Laura loves throwing parties and events supporting charitable missions. Her most memorable adult achievement is raising $1.2 million dollars for STARability Foundation through the 2020 gala as the Chair of the event. Thank you, Laura for all your hard work towards the mission of inclusion!
Candidates Champions
Mission Partners
David Elkins
Julie Lyle
Conor Castronovo
Kerry Swanson
Byron Schofield Adams
Gianna Rozzi
Candidates Champions
Mission Partners
Alexis Poore
Neena DeFrank
Aliison Reiter
Taylor Petras
Nicole Coratti
Stephanie Nordin
Candidates Champions
Mission Partners
Amanda Slade
Magan Kaiser
This Year's Entertainment
Amy Oshier, Wink News We’d like to thank Amy Oshier, form Wink News for being this year’s emcee. Amy has a passion for health and wellness and as a reporter, shares information that helps people live better!
Rick Gallo, Auctioneer Rick and his wife, Barb, originally from Westfield, MA have been long supporters of Best Buddies, March of Dimes, Make A Wish Foundation, and many other nonprofit organizations. Their heart for volunteerism has had a tremendous impact on our community and we can’t thank you enough for all you do!
Thank You To Our Sponsors!
Event Planning Committee
Cody Eads, Chair
Winnie Tan, Logistics
If you’d like to volunteer for a committee position for one of our upcoming events, please email PamelaConner@bestbuddies.org
GOLD Sponsor
Thank you Table Sponsors
Thank You Downtown House of Pizza for being Celebration Sponsor & sending 2 Buddies to Gala!
In Kind Donors 239 Life Alexis Poore Allison Reiter Amanda Slade Anastasia and John Burk Applebee's Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall Bark Box Bay Water Boat Rentals and Boat Clubs Benebone Busch Gardens Tampa Byron Schofield Adams Cason Photography Chicago Cubs Coca Cola Cody Eads Color Street Conor Castronovo Cooper's Hawk Fort Myers Danny Suero's Hair Design David Elkins Diva's N Doll's Fairy Hair DJ Rich Nuckols Exert Clinic Florida Everblades Florida Panthers Florida Repertory Theatre Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery & Science Gianna Rozzi Golf Safari Mini Golf Hair By Annie Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Jason’s Deli Jennifer Mackler John's Crazy Socks
In Kind Donors Julie Lyle Kearn's Restaurants Group Kennedy Space Center Kerry Swanson Laura Morinna Lee County Sheriff's Office Let's Roam Love Boat Ice Cream M&Ms Marty Wisher Massage Heights Megan Kaiser Minnesota Twins Mothership Outfitters Naples Botanical Gardens Naples Grande Neena DeFrank Nicole Coratti Oats Overnight Orlando Science Center Pamela Conner Paparazzi Phelan Family Brands Restaurants ProFiles Nail Salon Pure Florida Raising Cane's Rick Gallo River Hall Country Club Rocketbook Salon Adrian at Gulf Coast Town Center Salty Sam's Pirate Cruise Savannah Bananas Scentsy Spanish Wells Golf and Country Club Stephanie Nordin Tampa Bay Rowdies Soccer Club
Tattoo Alchemy Taylor Petras Tupperware-Valerie Kitchen Vera Bradley White Orchid Spa Winnie Schultz Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park
Thank You for Your Support
Walk. Celebrate. Support.
04.27.24 9:00 AM | Estero Community Park, Estero, FL 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). BESTBUDDIESFRIENDSHIPWALK.ORG/Southwestflorida
Pamela Conner Area Director 239.275.2510 PamelaConner@bestbuddies.org