Philly COY Program Book

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Dear Friends, I am thrilled to welcome you to the Best Buddies Champion of the Year Gala. After two and a half years of virtual events, we are back in person, reinvigorated by the energy and enthusiasm demonstrated in schools across the state. In just the last 10 weeks, we have opened chapters in nine new schools! As always, our goal is to end the social, physical and economic isolation of people with IDD by providing opportunities for friendship and leadership development, making students feel valued.

This year, Best Buddies turns its spotlight on our schools and their programs. Our programs are the heart and soul of Best Buddies and it is where we see our mission being put to use every day.

Today, Best Buddies’ programs engage participants in all 50 states and 55 countries. Our impact in Pennsylvania continues to grow with Chapters now open in 163 schools across the state, impacting an estimated 70,000 people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities statewide.

I extend a special thank you tonight to all of our sponsors, advisory board members, and committee members who have helped make this event an extraordinary success. Our 11 Champions have worked tirelessly to raise funds and awareness for Best Buddies. They demonstrate the true spirit of giving.

On behalf of more than 1.2 million people impacted annually by Best Buddies, thank you for supporting our 10-week campaign. I hope you have an amazing evening and continue to be inspired, as I am, by the combined efforts that have made this Champion of the Year Gala such a recordbreaking success.

With thanks for your generosity,

Hilary Stephens State Director, Pennsylvania Best Buddies International

2022 BEST BUDDIES PHILADELPHIA CHAMPION OF THE YEAR GALA NOVEMBER 11TH, 2022 DREXELBROOK SPECIAL EVENT CENTER 4700 DREXELBROOK DRIVE, DREXEL HILL, PA 19026

6:00 PM Cocktails, Silent Auction & Chef Showcase 7:30 PM Dinner Served 8:00 PM Program Begins 8:30 PM Live Auction and Special Appeal 9:30 PM Dancing and Check Out

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Best Buddies® is a nonprofit 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).

Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies has grown from one original chapter to nearly 3,000 elementary, middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States and in 47 countries around the world. Our nine formal programs — Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies®, Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters, and Inclusive Living — positively impact more than 1.25 million individuals with and without disabilities worldwide.

With over 160 chapters throughout the state of Pennsylvania, Best Buddies seeks to put an end to the social and physical isolation of our friends and neighbors with disabilities. Thank you for helping to make that vision a reality.

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EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA ADVISORY BOARD Sara Molina-Robinson, Chair Chief Educational Services Officer, PHMC

Advisory Board Margaret Brenner

Senior Business Development Executive, OneDigital

Helen Falguera Program Director, Partnership for Community Supports

Cory Gilbert Global Regulatory Affairs & Clinical Safety (GRACS) Merck

Lisa Holz Best Buddies Ambassador Employee, Wegmans Bakery

Michelle Kelly Co-Chair, Best Buddies PA Student Advisory Board Student, Lower Merion High School

Michelle Miller Director of Clinical Development, U Penn Gene Therapy Program (GTP)

LaQuenta Montanez School District of Philadelphia, Secondary Transition Coordinator

Steve Paul Relationship Manager, Brex

Heather Van Horn Special Education Department Chair, Lower Merion High School

Jackie Ward Advisor, Pennsbury School District

Alicia Wengert Instructional Aide, Council Rock School District

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MANY THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS!

MANY THANKS TO OUR RESTAURANT PARTNERS, CHEFS & BUDDY SOUS CHEFS!

Chef Gloria Clarke & Victoria Ciaccio Chef Steve Wilson & Katie Spencer Chef Scott Noye & Jenna Powers

Meet Matt & Steve Citizens Pair Matched since 2020

Steve: Every time we hang out I try to include him in all of the activities going on. We first did a day at the beach to start... and rest was history!

Full Page Matt & Steve

Matt: I am always excited to see Steve and have done lots of fun trips & activities together.

Meet Jake Riesberg When Jake started high school, he struggled to make social connections with his peers and felt isolated and alone. Then one day, a teacher recommended that Jake join Best Buddies and suddenly, everything changed. Jake went on to participate in Plymouth Whitemarsh High School’s chapter for six years gaining friends, new experiences and confidence in the process.

Since graduating high school, Jake has joined Gwynedd Mercy University’s chapter and is developing a whole new network of friends. For the past year, Jake has been taking classes and became an Ambassador for PECO’s Energy Force Program. Jake attends events as an Ambassador not only for PECO but Best Buddies to advocate for their Energy Efficiency initiatives and our mission.

Contact us to have a Best Buddies Ambassador speak at your next event!

Meet Michelle & Ethan Ethan and Michelle met in 2018 and have since cultivated their friendship through Best Buddies at Lower Merion High School. They love exploring HVAC systems, learning about science, and going on walks together.

Best Buddies at LMHS is an amazing community and they have so much fun there!

Contact us to learn more about our School Friendship Programs!

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EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL PROGRAMS ALVERNIA COLLEGE ARCHBISHOP JOHN CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL ARCOLA MIDDLE SCHOOL ARDMORE AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AVON GROVE HIGH SCHOOL BALA CYNWYD MIDDLE SCHOOL BAYARD RUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL BELMONT HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BLACK ROCK MIDDLE SCHOOL BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY CARDINAL JOHN FOLEY REGIONAL CATHOLIC SC HOOL CHARLES BOEHM MIDDLE SCHOOL C O L O N I A L M I D D L E S C H OO L CONESTOGA HIGH SCHOOL CONWELL EGAN HIGH SCHOOL DANIEL BOONE MIDDLE SCHOOL DESALES UNIVERSITY DOWNINGTOWN EAST HIGH SCHOOL DOWNINGTOWN WEST HIGH SCHOOL EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE ESPERANZA ACADEMY MI DDLE SCHOOL EYER MIDDLE SCHOOL GREAT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL GREAT VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL GWYNEDD-MERCY UNIVERSITY HARRITON HIGH SCHOOL HAVERFORD COLLEGE HAVERFORD HIGH SCHOOL HAVERFORD MIDDLE SCH OOL HENDERSON HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IMMACULATA UNIVERSITY J R FUGETT MIDDLE SC HOOL JOHN BARTRAM HIGH SCHOOL KATHRYN D. MARKLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KENNETT HIGH SCHOOL

KENNETT MIDDLE SCHOOL KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY LAFAYETTE COLLEGE LEHIGH UNIVERSITY L I O N V I L L E M I D D L E S C HO O L LOWER DAUPHIN HIGH SCHOOL LOWER MERION HIGH SCHOOL

MARPLE NEWTOWN HIGH SCHOOL MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL METHACTON HIGH SCHOOL MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY MISERICORDIA UNIVERSITY MORAVIAN COLLEGE MUHLENBERG COLLEGE NORRISTOWN HIGH SCHOOL OCTORARA INTERMEDIATE 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 HIGH 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 SCHUYLKILL ELEMENTAR Y SCHOOL STARKWEATHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STETSON MIDDLE SCHOOL STRATH HAVEN NIGH 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 WELSH VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL WEST CHESTER EAST HIGH SCHOOL WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY WHITEHALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WILLIAM PENN MIDDLE SCHOOL WILLIAM PENN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL WILSON COLLEGE YORK COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA

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What Is Champion of the Year?

Champion of the Year unites and recognizes the community’s most active leaders in the name of inclusion. They’ve turned their passion for inclusion into action by participating in a friendly fundraising competition over the past 10 weeks and have generated countless opportunities for friendship and leadership development for people with disabilities in our community.

Tonight we celebrate their achievements and recognize the top fundraiser as the 2022 Best Buddies Champion of the Year!

Now, let’s meet our nominees!

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LIVE AUCTION LINE UP ITEM # 1 A BEHIND THE SCENES VIP TOUR OF THE PHILADELPHIA ZOO. Here is a unique opportunity to see the nation’s oldest Zoo from the inside out. You and your 5 guests will be escorted through the Zoo with opportunities to feed the animals and learn about the success and challenges the Zoo faces on a daily basis.

Donor: Diana Ramsay and the Philadelphia Zoo

ITEM # 2 A WEEKEND IN THE BIG APPLE Spend a weekend in one of New York's finest hotels - the Pierre, a landmark on Fifth Avenue. Built in the 1920's, this iconic flagship of the Taj reopened after a $100 million renovation. Enjoy this two-night stay in a city-view room with a magnificent view of Central Park and the famed New York skyline.

Donor: The Pierre Hotel

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LIVE AUCTION LINE UP

ITEM # 3 FLY AMERICAN: FIRST CLASS TICKETS FOR TWO ANYWHERE IN THE CONTINENTAL USA OR CARIBBEAN Planning your next vacation? Use up to 240,000 American AAdvantage Airlines to fly coast to coast or to the Caribbean either in first class or in First/Business (depending on the aircraft). Here’s your chance to travel in style (and comfort) to any destination served by American Airlines within the contiguous United States or Caribbean. So think big! No blackout dates apply but reservations must be made at least 30 days in advance and are subject to availability. Taxes will be paid for by the donor. Travel must be taken by 11/1/2023.

Donor: Gary Greenfield

ITEM # 4 GETAWAY TO THE POCONOS Looking for a family ski vacation nearby? Enjoy six nights in this four-bedroom home (plus an additional loft with bunk beds) in the Poconos. The log cabin is located just four miles from the ski resort at Elk Mountain. There is a wood burning stove inside and an outside there is a bonfire ring. At least one weekend each month is available in January, February and March and the winner is required to sign an agreement prior to using the house stating that all children must be supervised by an adult.

Donor::

Aidan Milligan & Brian Young Haverford High School Best Buddies Leadership Conference 2019

LIVE AUCTION LINE UP

ITEM # 5 A DAY ON THE LINKS AT APPLEBROOK COUNTRY CLUB IN MALVERN, PA You and two friends will enjoy a day at Applebrook Country Club with member, Tom Corcimiglia as your host. Rated by Golf Digest as one of Pennsylvania’s top private courses, Applebrook is the perfect combination of a world-class golf course maintained at the championship level, with a top notch practice area. Your experience includes: time at the range, a caddied round with caddy fees included, lunch in the outstanding Applebrook dining room prior to play and a celebratory round of drinks afterward. To be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date before November 1, 2023.

Donor: Tom Corcimiglia

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CITIZENS: One to one friendship for adults with and without IDD.

Contact us today to learn how you can make a friend and an impact! pennsylvania@bestbuddies.org | 888-604-7376 | bestbuddies.org/pennsylvania

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