Dear Friends, Attendees and Donors
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We are thrilled to welcome you to the first Virtual Best Buddies Champion of the Year Gala. This year has been especially taxing for all of us, most importantly the charitable programs we so deeply care about – including Best Buddies in Tampa Bay. Tonight, we extend a special thank you to all our sponsors, advisory board members, and committee members who have helped make this event an extraordinary success. Most notably, we thank our Champions who have demonstrated the true spirit of giving by working tirelessly over the past several months to support the Best Buddies’ mission! On behalf of Best Buddies in Tampa Bay, thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity by attending our event. We want you to sit back, relax and enjoy this evening
in the comfort of your own home. We hope to inspire you with our mission moments, engage you with silent and live auctions and encourage you to learn more about this amazing organization. Thank you again for making the 2020 Virtual Champion of the Year Gala such a success. With endless gratitude, Andrew Thomas Chief Marketing Officer, Kforce 2020 Champions of the Year Chair - Best Buddies Tampa Bay Crystal Early Director of Recognition, Kforce 2020 Champions of the Year Co-Chair - Best Buddies Tampa Bay
We are so thankful to our presenting sponsor:
Heritage Insurance is based in Clearwater, Florida. We offer home, condo, rental property, and commercial residential insurance through a large network of experienced independent agents. Our team is committed to providing homeowners with the highest quality property insurance along with some of the most competitive rates in Florida. The management team at Heritage has over 500 years of combined experience in the Florida Homeowners Insurance market. We understand the importance of customer service, which is why our staff is always available to handle any question or claim. We know the importance of getting families back to normal as quickly as possible.
Andy Thomas, Event Chair | Crystal Early, Event Co-Chair Jaclyn Clark, Staff Partner | Morgan Heartsfield, Staff Partner Ashley Giardina and Sarah Roddenberry, Recruitment/Engagement Pearl Herrera and Lauren Hunsaker, Sponsorship Paige Depagter and Michelle Tatlock, Auction Kimberly Bird and Risa Hartsough, Publicity Jaki Hale and Kim Bailey, Mission Becca Scheuer and Katelynn Rose, Logistics Becky Zill and Krystle Trankito, Coordination
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,
$5,000 • Bring together people with and without IDD for friendships that cultivate community-wide social inclusion, by funding a new elementary school, middle school, high school, college, our adult friendship Chapter for a year in the Best Buddies Friendship Program. $2,500 • Fund an all day ambassador training session for up to 50 people with and without IDD, where attendees will gain the public speaking skills and confidence needed to champion inclusion throughout their community. $1,000 • Prepare future advocates by funding a student leader, ambassador or jobs participant to attend the annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference, where they will learn for themselves and the larger IDD community. $500 • Prep for success by providing 10 prospective jobs participants with one 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 that they can excel in their new placement $250 • Make a match! Support a one-to-one friendship between someone with and IDD and their peer, helping to build a mutually enriching connection that enhances the lives of program participants and their families. $100 • Teach inclusion at an early age! Supply training and instruction for interactive activities, lesson plans and tool kits for school students in a Best Buddies chapter to learn more about acceptance and inclusion at a young age.
Beth Ann Hill Through raising funds and awareness for Best Buddies, our Champions will generate countless opportunities for friendships, jobs, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). At the campaign’s conclusion, we will join together to celebrate each other’s accomplishments, honor the Champions’ collective impact, and name the ultimate Champion of the Year! Help us continue to provide these meaningful opportunities to people with IDD by supporting a Champion’s campaign, purchasing tickets, becoming a corporate sponsor, or making a general donation to the cause. We hope you’ll join us in this global movement! For sponsorship opportunities and other event inquiries, please contact JaclynClark@bestbuddies.org.
Alberto Herrera
Alicia Waldner
Breanne Souza
Zach Gresham
Darren Richards
David Schmidt
Iris Sandow
Jessica Boksen
Julissa Baez
Leah Roddenberry
Letitia Murray & Denise Johnson
Megan Sewell
Beth Anne Hill
Aarushi Pratap
Alexis Flanagan
Alphonso Murphy
Casey Kimerling
Christina Hundley
Dana Brown
Jon Sandow
Joshua Felder
Kellie Howard
Michael Johnson
Tristan Snapp
Veronica Green
Xavier Alvarez
Christina Hundley
Christina is a Global Ambassador for Best Buddies International and has a passion for music and friendship. From the time she was a child, she found her voice in a Karaoke machine and has been singing ever since.
Register: Text “TAMPACHAMPIONS” to (743725)
Donate: https://one.bidpal.net/tampachampions *You can also bid in the silent auction once you’ve registered