Best Buddies Kentucky Champion of the Year Program

Is a Proud Sponsor of

BEST BUDDIES and INCLUSION

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:

Best Buddies 2021 Featured Buddy Pair Megan & Bella, University of Louisville

Megan and Bella are Best Buddies participants who have been matched in a one-to-one friendship through the UofL Best Buddies program. Bella & Megan enjoy going for ice cream, going to the movies, and participating in the Best Buddies monthly chapter get-togethers. Friendship looks a little different in 2020-2021, but our buddy pairs have found new ways to connect so that physical distance doesn’t turn into social isolation. The Best Buddies mission is more important than ever.

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: Table Sponsors

Friendship Sponsor

MEET THE CHAMPIONS

Erica Hassoun, University of Louisville Student

JD Steer, Nationwide Services LLC

Jack Pilgrim, Kentucky Sports Radio

Lee Cooper, Strothman

Sami Yussman, Centerfield Elementary School,

MEET THE CHAMPIONS

Mark Brockman, Jr. M.D. Norton Children’s

Leslie Arnold, Kentucky Planning Partners

Kena Patel, High School Senior at duPont Manual High School

Chelsea Cooper, JCPS

Kasey Phelps, AmeriCorps Vista

MEET THE MISSION PARTNERS

MEET THE MISSION PARTNERS

Saturday, April 30, 2022 E.P. Tom Sawyer Park Register Your Team Today: BESTBUDDIESFRIENDSHIPWALK.ORG/KENTUCKY Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

Contact Kentucky@BestBuddies.org

Friendships for Adults: CITIZENS Best Buddies Citizens creates one-to-one friendships between adults with and without intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) in workplaces and the community.

To get involved, contact Kentucky@bestbuddies.org

Kentucky School Programs COLLEGE CHAPTERS

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPTERS

Bellarmine University

Ballard High School

Centre College

Barren County High School

Morehead State University

Butler High School

Murray State University

duPont Manual High School

Northern Kentucky University

Eastern High School

University of Kentucky

Fairdale High School

University of Louisville

Fern Creek High School

University of Pikeville

Iroquois High School

Western Kentucky University

Pleasure Ridge Park High School Shelby County High School Southern High School

MIDDLE SCHOOL Farnsley Middle School John L. Ramsey Middle Noe Middle School Shelby County East Middle Thomas Jefferson Middle Knight Middle School Westport Middle School Crosby Middle School

Trinity High School Assumption High School Waggener High School

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHAPTERS Farmer Elementary School Hawthorne Elementary School Middletown Elementary School Norton Commons Elementary Wellington Elementary School Wheeler Elementary School Indian Trail Elementary

Many THANKS to Our Sponsors: Bar Sponsors

Media Sponsor

A special thanks to our event photographer: Anatéa Cahill And a HUGE Thank You to our Gala Chair: Sydney Brooks

Circle of CHAMPIONS Best Buddies will be forever grateful for the Champions that have been helping Best Buddies push our mission forward since 2010, including these past winners: 2010 - NICK PHELPS 2011 - BRUCE CORWIN 2012 - AMANDA MERTZ 2013 - BRIAN COXON 2014 - HARPER GRAY 2015 - CHRIS JONES 2016 - SUSAN BROOKS 2017 - PEYTON GRAY 2018 - MERRITT ROBINSON 2019- DANIELLE DAVIS

2020 Grand Champion, Audrey Davis

12300 Plantside Drive | Louisville, KY 40299 502.333.9640 | splashanalytics.com info@splashnanalytics.com

Best Buddies in Kentucky 3044 Bardstown Rd, #1274 Louisville, KY 40205