800 Congress November 30, 2023
Dear Friends, Do you remember trying to find a lunch table in Middle School or High School? Now imagine you look, act or sound differently than everyone else. Even tougher, right? Best Buddies makes sure everyone feels like they belong. Will you help us build a world of inclusion for people of all abilities? Best Buddies Champion of the Year is a competitive fundraising campaign that unites and recognizes leaders of inclusion in local communities nationwide. Champion Candidates commit to raising funds and awareness for Best Buddies throughout their campaign. Our Champions advocate for the Best Buddies mission and will generate countless opportunities for friendships, jobs, and leadership development. Tonight, we honor the Champions’ collective impact and name the ultimate Champion of the Year! We also honor YOU, because simply by being here, you are now part of our mission and can impact the people in your world.
Best Buddies envisions a world where people with IDD are successfully integrated into every community and our programs are no longer needed. We want to show the world that people with disabilities deserve respect and you can help us achieve our goals through your donation. Thank you for being here and for your support of Best Buddies! In friendship.
Linda Kordek Milton State Director, Texas
How to Bid
Register: Text CTXCOY23 to 76278 or Scan the QR Code
Donate: Text the word GIVE and amount (dollar sign not required) to (76278) *You can bid in the silent auction once you’ve registered
This Year's Entertainment
A very special thanks to our EmceeMike McDonell
Cocktails, Dinner, Bid and Mingle Welcome Program Introduce Champions and Mission Partners 8:00pm Silent Auction Closes Live Auction Speaker: Tasha Johnson Mission Moment Bid from the Heart Announcement of Grand Champion Raffle Drawing 9:00pm Checkout/ DJ and Dancing
Champion Teams
Kate & Laura Avery
Chris & Emma Bredemeier
Tasha Johnson, Lisa Sigafoos & Sophie Witherspoon
Emma McCormick & Josh Legaspi
Live Auction Items Ultimate Night Out
Embark on an unforgettable night on the town in Austin with the Ultimate Night Out Package, featuring a gourmet dining experience at Vince Young Steakhouse and 4 tickets to the electrifying Madonna Concert on April 14, 2024. Includes a $200 gift certificate to Vince Young Steakhouse and 4 seats in Section 108.
Enjoy a weekend on Lake Travis! This home has 4 bedrooms featuring 2 king bedrooms, 1 bunk room (sleeps 5-8 with trundles), and a room with 2 twin beds and a set of bunk beds (Sleeps 13-17). Enjoy pool and outdoor grilling area, plus great sunset views of Lake Travis. Access to the lake and boat dock directly from the back yard. Includes a $250 gift card to Lakeway Marina (1 block from house) to rent paddles boards, a ski boat or pontoon boat on Lake Lake Travis Weekend Travis. *Boat/Water vehicles not included. Stay
Live Auction Items Four Seasons Stay
A One Night Stay in a Two Bedroom Specialty Suite with Dinner for 4 in Ciclo Restaurant Advance reservations required, and is valid until ONE YEAR OUT. We regret we will not be able to extend accommodations on a night with the potential to sellout,which includes South By Southwest and Austin City Limits festivals, Circuit of the Americas race events, University of Texas home football weekends and graduation, r other blackout dates. Please note that due to the volume of contributions we make each year, the expiration date cannot be extended. This offer has no cash value and is subject to being canceled without notice if sold or otherwise auctioned. It is not transferable between Hotels.
Reconnect with nature at this globally– acclaimed resort and spa, Ojo Santa Fe. For hundreds of years, travelers have journeyed to these spring-fed waters for respite and healing. Discover the benefits of hydrotherapy in their spring-fed thermal pools, dine on farm-fresh cuisine, and find utter relaxation in their waterside spa. Enjoy 3 nights at the Travel and Leisure Awarded Spa Resort in Sante Fe, New Mexico in the luxurious Casitas and soaking in the pools. Rules: Enjoy a three night stay in a One-Bedroom Casita available Sunday Thursday. During your stay you will enjoy unlimited soaking in our spring-fed thermal pools, complimentary morning yoga, local coffee and teas, as well as daily puppy play at the Puppy Patch, access to hiking trails, and visits with our silky chickens. Must present certificate at time of arrival. Subject to availability , no applicable for holidays or blackout dates, and does not include alcohol, tax, or gratuity. Private soaking session valid dates of overnight lodging stay only. Ojo Santa Fe is a 13 and over property that is pet and smoke free. Expires 11/30/2024
OJO Sante Fe Stay
Bid From the Heart 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 • A middle school, high school, or college Chapter for a year • The cost of the room and food to host 250+ Best Buddies members to the statewide Friendship Ball $2,500 • 10 buddy runners to participate in the ION Bank Cheshire Half Marathon or 5K or Team Best Buddies Relay $1,000 • The cost to send a Buddy to the Leadership Conference (Registration and Air) • A tent at the walk • DJ or photo booth for a statewide Best Buddies event $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 • 1 buddy runner to participate in the ION Bank Cheshire Half Marathon • The cost of buying t-shirts for a school chapter $250 • The cost to send 4 buddies to the Buddy Ball • The cost to send a buddy to the Party with a Purpose • Transportation for 2 ambassadors to give public speeches • The cost of a pizza party for a school chapter
Thank You To Our Sponsors!
Event Planning Committee Laura Avery, Co-Chair Colleen Jones, Co-Chair Vali Martin Colleen Lord Kelly Sampley Suzanne Wilson Mimi Spier Kevin Warden Laura Maccini Tasha Johnson Katherine Jones Shantel Ferdman Anne Hagan Peggy McDonell Catherine Horne Mike McDonell Marnie Fitzgerald
David’s Yarrow’s “Wonder” Best Buddies proudly welcomed fine art photographer David Yarrow as a Best Buddies Global Ambassador in 2020. We are thrilled to announce a Best Buddies exclusive, 24 print limited edition of David Yarrow's Wonder. Our photograph Wonder evokes a time of cowboys and their wonder horses from early Western films. Wonder captures the strength and trust of the friendship between the pictured cowboy and his sidekick, a ‘wonder horse.’ Best Buddies’ first mission pillar recognizes the importance of friendship in everyone’s lives, and Wonder demonstrates that friendship can look many different ways.
Limited editions available for purchase
Walk. Celebrate. Support.
04.20.24 Westlake High School The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading walk in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (also known as IDD). BESTBUDDIESFRIENDSHIPWALK.ORG/CENTRALTEXAS
Morgan Ilika-Area Director 512-590-5736 morganilika@bestbuddies.org