Pennsylvania
Dear Friends, 2020 has been a year filled with surprises, challenges, and even silver linings – a year that we could have never imagined just 10 months ago. Cut off from school, jobs and therapies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are struggling with social isolation across the Commonwealth.
At Best Buddies, we are focused on innovating and adapting our programs to reach more participants online. Despite the obvious challenges, we continue to open new school Friendship Programs, recruit volunteers, train ambassadors, raise funds and share our mission. We have learned that our virtual network, as colleagues and managers, and our online expertise, is paramount to our collective success. We are extraordinarily grateful to our 21 Champions, from across the state of Pennsylvania, for stepping up during this challenging time.
None of us knew what to expect when we started this campaign 10 weeks ago. Each Champion has his or her own unique approach. Thank you for joining us for our online auction and for our Champion of the Year Celebration on Friday night, November 13 at 8 PM. Never has inclusion been more important. In Friendship,
Hilary Stephens State Director
Thank you to our Champion of the Year Committee Members! Joyce Lofink, Kristin Long, and Julie Winn
Best Buddies Western PA Friendship Chapters Allderdice High School ACLD Tillotson School Baldwin High School Bethel Park High School Blairsville High School Blairsville Middle School Burchfield Primary School Butler Area Senior High School Butler Middle School Carlow University Carlynton High School Carson Middle School Center Elementary School Chartiers Valley High School Deer Lakes High School Deer Lakes Middle School Dorseyville Middle School Duquesne University Emily Brittain Elementary School Fox Chapel Area High School Hampton High School Hartwood Elementary School Hosack Elementary School Indiana University of Pennsylvania Ingomar Middle School
JE Harrison Middle School Kiski Area High School Knoch High School McMurray Elementary School Montour High School New Brighton Area Middle School North Allegheny High School Pennsylvania State University Peters Township High School Peters Township Middle School Pine-Richland High School Plum Senior High School Quaker Valley High School Quaker Valley Middle School Riverside Elementary School Robert Morris University Seneca Valley High School Serra Catholic High School Slippery Rock University State College Area High School Thomas Jefferson High School University of Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Upper St. Clair High School West Allegheny Middle School
Best Buddies Eastern PA Friendship Chapters Aldan Elementary School Archbishop John Carroll High Arcola Middle School Ardmore Avenue Elementary Avon Grove High School Bala Cynwyd Middle School Bayard Rustin High School Belmont Hills Elementary School Bloomsburg University Charles Boehm Middle School Charles F. Patton Middle School Colonial Middle School Conestoga High School Daniel Boone MIddle School DeSales University Downingtown East High School East Stroudsburg University Elizabethtown College Forks Elementary School Garnet Valley Middle School Great Valley High School Great Valley Middle School Gwynedd-Mercy University Harriton High School Haverford College Haverford High School
Haverford Middle School Henderson High School J R Fugett Middle School Kathryn D. Markley Elementary Kennett High School Kutztown University Lafayette College Lehigh University Lionville Middle School Lower Dauphin High School Lower Merion High School Marple Newtown High School Methacton High School Millersville University Misericordia University Muhlenberg College Norristown High School Owen J. Roberts High School Owen J. Roberts Middle School Paxon Hollow MIddle School Peirce Middle School Penn Wood High School Penn Wood Middle School Pennsbury High School Pennwood Middle School Perkiomen Valley Middle School
Phoenixville Area High School Phoenixville Area Middle School Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Quakertown High School Radnor High School Radnor Middle School Saint Joseph's University South Elementary School Starkweather Elementary School Stetson Middle School Susquehanna University Temple University Unionville High School University of Pennsylvania Upper Darby High School Upper Merion High School Upper Merion Middle School Ursinus College Villanova University W B Evans Magnet School Welsh Valley Middle School West Chester East High School West Chester University Whitehall Elementary School William Penn Middle School York College of Pennsylvania
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 • 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 • 10 buddy runners to participate in the ION Bank Cheshire Half Marathon or 5K or Team Best Buddies Relay $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 • 1 buddy runner to participate in the ION Bank Cheshire Half Marathon • 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
Virtual Silent Auction
Item 312
Item 305
Item 401
City Rivalry
Shannopin Country Club
Smooth as Whiskey
2021 MLB Tickets + Dinner & Enjoy a foursome round of golf 1 night Hotel stay in the city of with carts alongside your golfing your choice buddies
Five flavorful whiskies to enjoy at your next holiday event
How to Bid Register: Text PACHAMPION to (76278)
Donate: Text the word GIVE and amount (dollar sign not required) to (76278) *You can also bid in the silent auction once you’ve registered.
Annie Gable My name is Annie Gable and I am a proud member of the 2020 graduating class of Haverford High School where I served as president of our Best Buddies Chapter for two years. Through Best Buddies, I made friendships that will last a lifetime and discovered a passion that has led me to pursue a degree in Special Education from East Stroudsburg University this fall! Last year I was honored to be named 2019 Champion of the Year and raised over $14,000 for Best Buddies programs in eastern PA. Our 2020 nominees come from all walks of life, but one thing they have in common is their passion for inclusion. Through their ten week Champion Campaign, they’ve turned that passion into action and have rallied support from their communities to move Best Buddies’ mission forward at a time when it is needed most. With your help, the funds they have raised will create a more inclusive PA. On behalf of myself and the thousands of Pennsylvanians who have benefitted from Best Buddies’ programs, I want to thank all of the nominees for truly being champions for Best Buddies! Sincerely, Annie Gable
2020 NOMINEES
Alex Balint Alex is Executive Chef and Owner of Doce Taqueria, and has participated in Pittsburgh’s Tastebuds Event since 2016 with his Buddy, Chris.
Paris Brown Paris is Chapter President of the Butler High School Best Buddies and has three brothers with Down Syndrome who inspire her to push for inclusion everyday.
Jason Bertocchi Jason is a member of the Best Buddies Advisory Board in Pittsburgh and has been involved for 14 since joining the Duquesne University chapter.
Meghan Cartmell Meghan serves as a Leadership Advisor at the Siegfried Group and is a member of the Best Buddies Advisory Board
Taylor Edgar
in Philadelphia.
Taylor is a Best Buddies Ambassador and has been a member the Best Buddies Duquesne University Chapter for 8 years.
Christy Cullen Christy is the current Chapter President of the Lehigh University Best Buddies Chapter and has been involved for over 7 years.
Meaghan Hennessy Meaghan is the current Chapter President of the Haverford High School Best Buddies Chapter and a passionate advocate for people with disabilities.
2020 NOMINEES
James Lynn
Noreen Liebrock
James is the Vice President of Corporate Development at CBRE and a member of the Best Buddies Advisory Board in Philadelphia.
Noreen is the Leader of Occupational Health & Wellness at Nova Chemicals and a member of the Best Buddies Advisory Board in Pittsburgh.
Eric Jankoski Eric is the Advisor of the Best Buddies Chapter at Baldwin High School, where he also serves as the district's Transition Coordinator.
Sara Molina Robinson Sara is the Chief Educational Services Officer at the Public Health Management Corporation & a member of the Best Buddies Advisory Board in Philadelphia.
Dominic & Dana Meoli Dominic and his sister Dana are both long time participants in Best Buddies at Methacton High School where Dominic serves as the current Chapter President.
Jeff Maag Jeff is the Executive Chef at Eddie Merlot’s Prime Aged Beef and Seafood and a longtime participant in Pittsburgh’s TasteBuds event with his Buddy, Chris.
Abby Molinaro Sara MolinaRobinson
Abby is a Best Buddies Ambassador and a Sofia and Emily2020 graduate from Hampton High School where she was a member of Best Buddies Zipparo for three years.
2020 NOMINEES
Jalen Owen Jalen is the current Vice President at the Upper Merion High School Chapter of Best Buddies and a volunteer for Special Olympics.
Jenna Spencer Jenna is a senior at Lower Dauphin High School and has been a member of their Best Buddies Chapter since her freshman year.
Scott Somma Scott is the Managing Partner at Affinity Wealth Management in Pittsburgh and has been involved with Best Buddies since 2017 as top fundraiser for the Friendship Walk.
Lizzy Stahelek Lizzy is former Chapter President at Pierce Middle School Best Buddies and a current member of the Henderson High School Chapter.
Alicia Wengert Alicia is a member of the Best Buddies Advisory Board in Philadelphia and has worked within the disability field for many years with a focus on employment.
Julia Thomas Julia is the current Chapter President of the Marple Newtown High School Best Buddies Chapter and plans to pursue a degree in Special Education.
Sofia & Emily Zipparo Sisters, Sofia & Emily, are members of the Quaker Valley Chapter of Best Buddies where they have each served in officer roles and enjoy advocating for their peers.
Mission Partners Our thanks to these outstanding Mission Partners who were an endless source of motivation and inspiration for our Champions!
Terrance Grey
Emily Scott
Riley Vetter
Jack Raihall
Celine Heffron-Pero
Julian Smith
Jake Riesberg
Chris Carpellotti
Jasmine Pisor
Danny Shields
Lisa Holz
Ally Stahelek
Kaitlyn Anderson
Stephen Liebrock
Teresa Plunkett
Nicolette Fenello
Chris Lofink
Thank You! To all who contributed to our Champion of the Year Auction!
Meet the Best Buddies PA Team
Hilary Stephens
Samantha Civitate
Milli Protheroe
State Director
Development Director
Director of Programs & Operations
Marissa O’Brien
Samantha Mildner
Andrew Harbaugh
Deputy Director of Programs
Program Manager of Community Engagement
Program Manager Mission Expansion
Western Pennsylvania Advisory Board Katie Damiani- Board Chair | Managing Director, Head of Wealth Management Service Delivery Jason Bertocchi | Consultant, Aon Jason Brindza | Best Buddies Advisor, Quaker Valley High School Dustin Defebo | Associate Director, NA Health and Benefits, Willis Towers Watson Nicolette Fenello | Best Buddies Ambassador Helenka Foley | Best Buddies Ambassador Erin Grimm | Training and Consultation Coordinator, Allegheny Intermediate Unit Lori Hasley | Affirmative Action Specialist, Bank of New York Mellon Chaz Ramon Kellem | Director, Pitt Serves Deirde Kramer | Parent/Advocate Noreen Liebrock | Team Leader Health and Wellness. Nova Chemicals Joyce Lofink | Parent/Advocate Dr. Alia M. Pustorino-Clevenger | Director for Student Life Assessment & Co-Curricular Community Engagement, Duquesne University Scott Yusavage | President, Computer Fellows Inc.
Eastern Pennsylvania Advisory Board Meghan Cartmell | Associate Director, The Siegfried Group, LLP Helen Falguera | Program Director, Partnership for Community Supports Greg des Groseilliers | Talent & Organization Consulting, Accenture John Kelly | Director, Property Management , Brandywine Realty Trust Erin Laird | Special Education Teacher, Lower Merion School District Kristin Long | Principal, Shorestart LLC James Lynn | Vice President of Corporate Development at CBRE Digger O'Brien | Owner, 3 Pillars Creative
Sara Molina-Robinson | Managing Director, Special Ed Programs and Support Services, PHMC Heather Van Horn | Autistic Support Teacher, Lower Merion High School Jacklyn Ward | Special Education Teacher, Pennsbury School District Alicia Wengert | Food Service Lead, Aramark