This eight-week philanthropic competition for Best Buddies in Michigan celebrates Best Buddies participants and community leaders throughout the Commonwealth who have been nominated as “Champions” to raise funds and increase awareness for the mission of Best Buddies. Following an eight-week campaign, all candidates and their mission partners are being honored at the Champion of the Year Gala. The Champion candidate who raises the most donations, surpassing all rivals in the competition, is named the 2021 Grand Champion of the Year. Funds raised by the Champions and proceeds from the Gala will directly benefit the local programs of Best Buddies in Michigan to create more friendships, develop leadership opportunities, and open new programs for hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities around the state. Thank you for your support of our Champion of the Year gala!
Kara Huber Director, Mission Advancement, Best Buddies in Michigan
All donations are tax-deductible under all MI laws of tax deductible donations for 501(c)(3) organizations.
6:30PM - Doors Open (you must show a vaccine card or negative COVID test within 72 hours of event) 6:30-7:30PM - Passed H'ors d'oevres, open bar, silent auction 7:30PM - Program & Dinner Starts 8:10PM - Silent Auction Ends 8:15PM - Live Auction Begins 8:40PM - Bid from the Heart
9:30 - GRAND Champion of the Year Announced 9:45-11:00PM: Drinking, Dancing, Exploring the Museum 11:00PM - Event Ends
Champion Honorary
Andrea
Leah
Nikhil
Anne
DesRosiers
Mattise
Mantena
Moler
Honorary Champions
Brett & Bridget
Samantha
Kierin
Rachel
Wagner
Masserant
Kerbawy
Mueller
Our Sponsors & Supporters
Champion of the Year Planning Committee
Best Buddies in Michigan Advisory Board
Jordan Tolmie
John Tolmie
Bill Pointkowski
Jennifer Dollar
Noah Ayers
Dr. Susan Youngs
Sarah Ridley
Jane Reutter Hannah Reutter Lynn Wagner Lydia Goff Jake Wiessman
This year’s mission moment is brought to you by one of our Best Buddies in Michigan Jobs participants, Andrea DesRosiers, and her supervisor Kara and her fellow training partner, Carter, from MOD Pizza.
Register: Text MICHAMPS to (76278) Donate: Text the word GIVE and amount (dollar sign not required) to (76278)
ADD IMAGE
Hannah Reutter 2019 Best Buddies’ Champion of the Year
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.
$5,000
$3,000
$2,500
Gift of Friendship
Party With A Purpose
Training Day
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.
Create a magical evening where buddy pairs celebrate and have fun at the Best Buddies Friendship Ball, similar to a prom for our middle school, high school and college members.
Fund an Ambassador training session for up to 50 people with and without IDD, giving them the public speaking skills to champion for inclusion throughout Kentucky
$1,000 Prepare Future Advocates Give a student leader, Ambassador, or Faculty Advisor the opportunity to attend the annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference, where they will learn to advocate for themselves and the IDD community.
$100
$350
$250
Gift of Chapter Dues
It’s A Match!
Help alleviate a high school or college chapter of its $350 annual dues which provides a library of online resources, membership management program, use of the Best Buddies name and logo, and liability insurance.
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.
$50
You’ve Got Mail!
Prep For Success
Fund an online e-Buddies friendship between a person with and a person without IDD. The “e-pal” program allows participants to become more social and technology-literate, which may lead to more advanced career opportunities.
Provide an hour of job coaching, where an employment candidate with IDD has the opportunity to practice interview skills, prepare for job readiness, or receive on-the-job support so he or she can excel in a new placement.
$25 Teach Inclusion At An Early Age Supply instruction for interactive activities, lesson plans and tool kits for school students in a Best Buddies chapter so that they can learn about acceptance and inclusion at a young age.
Megan Carlisle
www.ralcoind.com
In-Kind Donors &
Fundraising Partners Bizzy Buzz Bowlero Lanes & Lounge Buffalo Wild Wings Caesars Windsor California Pizza Kitchen Di pilla Distinctive Dining Detroit Pistons Detroit Redwings Detroit Tigers doTerra Emagine Theater
Eve International Logistics
Fieldstone Winery Downtown Rochester Flowers for Dreams Glenn Kujansuu Photography Goose Island Hawkes Wine
Henry Ford Museum Hey Honey Bizz Kirt Manecke Laila Younes Photography Lansing Ice and Fuel Lifetime Fitness Mary Kay MJR Digital Cinemas MOD Pizza
Moon River Mt. Holly Olive Garden One Salon Pepsi Pine Trace Golf Club PRP Wine Red Lobster Schramsberg Vineyards Simply Good Kitchen Somerset Inn Starbucks
Tarro Salon Truline’s Indoor Putting Greens Williamette Valley Vineyards