Is a Proud Sponsor of
BEST BUDDIES and INCLUSION
This twelve-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 the campaign, all candidates are 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 2020 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!
Emily Hunt Director, Expansion Development
All donations are tax-deductible under all MI laws of tax deductible donations for 501(c)(3) organizations.
Mission Best Buddies International is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to -one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Who We Serve The IDD Community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, fragile X syndrome, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities.
Programs Best Buddies programs sit on the four key mission pillars below:
Inclusion isn’t cancelled!
Participants in the MSU chapter gather together for monthly virtual gatherings because inclusion is not cancelled! Although we may not be together in person, our buddies are never alone! Despite the challenges 2020 has brought, Best Buddies is still growing, adding new chapters, and placing new participants in meaningful jobs every day.
How Donations = Programmatic Support
$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.
Many THANKS to Our Sponsors:
MEET THE C
JENNIFER DOLLAR
Anne Moler
Kelly Services
Best Buddies Ambassador
Charles Jiang General Motors
Kurt Masserant Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital
CHAMPIONS
Brett Wagner
Claire Netemeyer
T.J. Maxx
Cherry Health
Megan Carlisle
Sarah Woodstein
Best Buddies Ambassador
MSU Best Buddies Chapter President
April 2021 Washtenaw Community College Register Your Team Today: BESTBUDDIESFRIENDSHIPWALK.ORG/MICHIGAN Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities Available! Contact Michigan@BestBuddies.org
Friendships for Adults: CITIZENS During the pandemic, Best Buddies has provided opportunities for adults to engage socially through weekly zoom meetings. Now they are ready to take on the world for friendship. To get involved, contact Michigan@bestbuddies.org
Michigan School Programs Central Michigan University Eastern Michigan University Grand Valley State University University of Michigan Western Michigan University Wayne State University Oakland University Northern Michigan University Michigan State University Eastpointe High School Washtenaw Community College Brownell Middle School Skyline High School
Michigan Employer Partners Kelly Services T.J. Maxx Ascension Providence Hospital
Michigan Advisory Board
Sally Peterson, Advisory Board Chair, Community Affordability Advocate
Anna Hornyak, Founder & CEO Pescara Enterprises, LLC
Sue Chaplin, Manager (retired) Deloitte Consulting
John Tolmie, Chief Financial Officer (retired) Arteva Homes/Arterra Realty
Jennifer Dollar, Sr. Director, Business Process Enablement Kelly Services
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 Emily Hunt, by email: emilyhunt@bestbuddies.org
Best Buddies Michigan www.bestbuddies.org/michigan Michigan@bestbuddies.org