This eight-week philanthropic competition for Best Buddies in Kentucky celebrates Best Buddies participants and community leaders throughout the Commonwealth who have been nominated as “Champions” to raise funds and increase awareness for our mission. Following the campaign, all candidates are honored at the Champion of the Year Gala. The Champion candidate who raises the most donations, surpassing all rivals in the competition, is named the 2025 Grand Champion of the Year.
Funds raised by the Champions and proceeds from the Gala will directly benefit the local programs of Best Buddies in Kentucky to create more friendships, develop leadership opportunities, and open new programs for hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities around the state Thank you for your support of our Champion of the Year Gala, and for sharing your time, your spirit, and your generosity with us.
In Friendship,
KellyCarrico
Kelly Carrico Director of Mission Advancement
Best Buddies in Kentucky
SIGNATURE SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSOR
BidFromtheHeart
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.
$7,500
Cover the cost of the room and food to host 250+ Best Buddies members to the statewide Friendship Ball.
$5,000
Bring together people with and without IDD for friendships that cultivate community-wide social inclusion; by funding a new school in the Best Buddies Friendship program.
$2,500
Fund an all-day Ambassadors training session for up to 50 people with and without IDD; where attendees will gain the public speaking skills and confidence needed to champion for inclusion throughout their community.
$1,000
Give a student leader or Ambassador the opportunity to attend the annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference; where they will learn to advocate for themselves and the larger IDD community.
$500
Support a one-to-one friendship between someone with IDD and their peer; helping to build a mutually enriching connection that enhances the lives of program participants and their families.
$250
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.
$100
Fund an activity for a school friendship program!
2024 Champion of the Year
2025 Buddy Pair
Isabella and Ryan
Isabella and Ryan were matched as buddies two years ago at the University of Kentucky Best Buddies Chapter. Isabella had this to say about her friendship with Ryan:
“Our very first outing was an ice cream run to Andy’s, and from the beginning, we clicked Since then, we’ve shared so many fun times together going on walks, playing card games, planning Best Buddies events, watching movies, and going to soccer games. Ryan was one of my very first college friends, and now he’s a friend I can’t imagine life without. We are both so grateful for Best Buddies and the friendship it has given us.”
Your generosity tonight will allow more friendships like Isabella and Ryan to form and change lives.
Auction and Bid from the Heart checkout will begin immediately following the conclusion of the program
Emcee & Auctioneer: Trey Morris
How to Bid
Register: Text KYCOY25 to (76278)
Mobile Bidding Site: KYCOY25.givesmart.com
Donate: Text the word GIVE and amount to (76278)
Advisory
Lee Anne Alsup
Board Members
Tony Cipolla
BBKY Board Chair
St. Joseph’s Children’s Home
Mario Cipolla
Best Buddies Ambassador
Sha Kent
Inclu
BBKY Board Vice Chair
St. Matthews Fire & EMS
Andy Krause
MKS Global
Nate Littles
Blue & Co
INTE
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Best B
Jason Thompson
Sounds Fun Entertainment
Teresa Letto
BBKY Louisville Citizens
Meghan Strite
The de Paul School
Vince Cain
Right Mind Growth Consulting
JCPS
Ami Cain
STOCK THE BAR
Donated by Advisory Board Members, Champion Candidates and Mission Partners
UL BASKETBALL TICKETS WITH HOTEL AND DINNER
Donated by UofL, Hotel Distil & Mayan Cafe COSTA
Donated by Bryce Anderson
Donated by Churchill Downs
Full item descriptions are on our GiveSmart site. Text KYCOY25 to 76278 to register!
Full Spectrum Technology Solutions Partner
MKS Digital: Engineering, IT and Software Development. Onshore, Offshore and Nearshore staffing resources MKS Innovative Products: End to End Product Development, Contract Manufacturing, Flexible Manufacturing, Rework, Metal Fabrication, Prototyping, Reverse Engineering, Custom Welding, Electronics Assembly, and Industrial Metrology
We are a proud sponsor of the 2025 Best Buddies Champion of the Year Gala and of the Champion Candidate
Addie Childers
Pro Turf Inc. would like to recognize all of the hard work and effort by all of the 2025 Best Buddies Champion candidates and their mission partners!
