You’re making a difference.
Thank You from the BBKY Team
Dear Friends,
All of us at Best Buddies in Kentucky extend our deepest appreciation to our wonderful participants, families, volunteers, donors, and corporate partners for such a successful 2025! Your support and dedication to our mission helps our programs grow, creating more inclusive communities throughout our state.
Happy Holidays to you and yours and here’s to continued growth in 2026!
In Friendship, Kelly Carrico Director of Mission Advancement
Best Buddies
Friendship Walk
Here’s what we’ve accomplished, Because of your support in 2025
1,113
4,450
One-to-one Friendships
Meet Isabella and Ryan
Isabella and Ryan spoke at this year’s Champion of the Year Gala. They shared a beautiful story about their friendship, which started through the Best Buddies chapter at the University of Kentucky.
Best Buddies has been life-changing for me. It’s where I make people laugh, where I feel included, and where I’ve made some of my closest friends.”
- Ryan
Best Buddies gave me one of my very first college friends — and a friendship I now can’t imagine my life without.”
-Isabella
6 Promoters Participants
62 2025 - 2026 Ambassador Academy Participants
Leadership
Development
Meet Dan
Best Buddies makes me happy and allows me to be the best version of me. It has given me the confidence and encouragement as a leader and ambassador. It has also given me the resources and opportunities to live independently and act as a role model to current and future ambassadors."
-Daniel Noltemeyer
Best Buddies KY
Buddy Ball
An unforgettable evening with 50 of our closest friends from all over the state gathered at Eastern High School for music, dancing, and friendship!
Spread the Word to End the Word (STW ETW) is an ongoing movement to end the hurtful and demeaning use of the word “retard(ed).” Chapters all throughout Kentucky held a STW ETW awareness event at their respective schools. Our Best Buddies participants raised the consciousness of their classmates about the dehumanizing effects of using the RWord and encouraged people to stop using the word.
Raised $52,000
Nearly 400 participants, corporate partners and community members walked for inclusion!
In July, nearly 32 leaders from all over Kentucky, both with and without IDD, attended our 34th Annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference. They participated in personalized trainings that develop the skills needed to organize and lead a Best Buddies chapter!
This July, we hosted our annual Best Buddies Golf Scramble and what an incredible day it was! Over 70 golfers came out to support friendship and inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Thanks to their enthusiasm, generosity, and competitive spirit, the event raised an outstanding $17,000 for our statewide programs.
Raised $172,000
Nearly 240 supporters came together for our annual Gala in celebration of the collective efforts of our Champion candidates who raised funds and awareness to support our mission!
Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them - a desire, a dream, a vision.” -Mahatma Gandhi
SUP SON
Than will be double-matched 2:1, up to $1.32M! The state that raises the most funds for Best Buddies starting on Giving Tuesday through December 31st will have bragging rights as the 2025 Best Buddies State Showdown winner! Let’s show them how inclusive Kentucky can be!
DONATE AT: https://tinyurl.com/BBKY2025 or use the QR code here.
