New Mexico Champion of the Year Program Book

We are so grateful to PNM for being our Event Sponsor for this year’s BBNM Champion of the Year Gala and for their many years of support of our mission for social inclusion of all New Mexicans.

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Dear Friends Thank you for being a part of tonight’s 2021 Champion of the Year gala celebration! Through raising funds and awareness for Best Buddies in New Mexico, our Champions have generated countless opportunities for friendships, jobs and leadership development for New Mexicans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). But our Champions are far more in number than the committed individuals we honor tonight. This evening’s gala event marks the campaign’s conclusion, yes, but it also honors and recognizes our entire community of supporters, families, partners and program participants who make our Best Buddies community possible here in New Mexico.

By working together and leaning into our long-held values of family, of community, and that sense that the whole is far greater than any of its parts, we will surely be able to create

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meaningful change for New Mexicans with IDD. Together with your help, Best Buddies will continue to facilitate meaningful connections and friendships while inspiring our youth, our neighbors and our employers to recognize the value and the dignity that true social inclusion creates for each and every one of us. We ARE the movement for change.

Tessah Latson Best Buddies in New Mexico State Director

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 • 5 middle school, high school, or college Chapters for a year • The cost of the room and food to host 250+ Best Buddies members to the statewide Friendship Ball $2,500 • Two semi annual Best Buddies Birthday Bash mini events in 2022 $1,000 • The cost to send a Buddy to the Leadership Conference (Registration and Air) • A tent at the walk • Supporting program expansion in the four corners $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 • Sponsoring 4 buddies to attend the 2022 COY Gala • The cost of buying t-shirts for a school chapter

$250 • The cost to send 4 buddies to the Buddy Ball • Transportation for 2 ambassadors to give public speeches • The cost of a pizza party for a school chapter

Vanessa

LBJ Middle School

Berumen

Thomas

Ann

Fitzpatrick

John

Jim and Ben Maes Kaitlin

Stephanie

Kerl

Perdue

Many thanks to Frances Lujan, Los Tapatios and Ballet en Fuego for providing the entertainment.

A big thank you to DJ Flo Fader for providing the music and being our resident DJ for the evening.

Register: Text NMCOY to (76278) Donate: Text the word GIVE and amount (dollar sign not required) to (76278)

Thank you to our Project SEARCH Employer Partners

A Special Thank You to the Following

Embassy Suites The Coffee Table Collective Forms Plus Travis Davis Andrew Cavalier Best Buddies of New Mexico Advisory Board Stephanie Perdue, Board Chair Michael Mertz, Past Board Chair Pat Sutton, Secretary Jill Vice Vanessa Berumen Sherri Blowers Christie Stephens Annittra Atler

Katie Shaw