PROGRAM BOOK
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the 2026 All That Glitters
Aspen Gala! We are absolutely thrilled to have you join us tonight as we celebrate Best Buddies’ mission and our community's incredible generosity.
Exclusive VIP Saturday Night Live Experience
Two VIP tickets to a live taping of Saturday Night Live, one of the most iconic and beloved shows in television history. This is a rare, behind-the-scenes experience at NBC’s historic Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center. Saturday Night Live tapings are notoriously difficult to access and virtually impossible to purchase making this one of the most coveted lots of the evening. What’s Included:
Two VIP tickets to a Saturday Night Live taping in New York City
Provided directly through the SNL team
Generously donated by Dr. Jonathan and Stacey Levine *Restrictions apply
Value: Priceless
Shriver Family Home, Hyannis Port
Experience a once-in-a-lifetime escape at a historic seaside estate in Hyannis Port, just moments from one of New England’s most iconic coastal neighborhoods. Steeped in tradition and surrounded by generations of history, this remarkable setting offers an unmatched blend of privacy, prestige, and oceanfront beauty
Your unforgettable getaway includes:
Six nights and seven days in a spectacular 14-bedroom, 13bathroom private estate, complete with a full-time housekeeper
Wake up to sweeping, unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean and step directly onto your private beach
Enjoy exceptional on-site amenities including tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts, all designed for relaxed days spent with family and friends
Your experience also includes a round of golf for four at the exclusive Hyannis Port Golf Club, where the estate sits along the 18th hole
Value: $125,000
Ultimate Denver Nuggets Courtside
Experience the excitement of the NBA like never before with four courtside seats to a regular season Denver Nuggets game. You'll have the opportunity to choose from one of three premier matchups once the schedule is released, putting you right at the center of the action
Your unforgettable night also includes four exclusive Lexus Club passes with access to premium lounges and dining, two parking passes for a seamless arrival, and a $500 gift card to Tavernetta, one of Denver's most celebrated contemporary Italian restaurants
Value: $12,500
Dunbar Ranch
Experience the magic of Aspen's most extraordinary private estate in an entirely new way The Dunbar - Kevin Costner's legendary ranch - invites your group of 12 to an unforgettable catered dinner inside its newly renovated barn, one of the most breathtaking private event spaces in all of the Rocky Mountains. As the sun sets over the iconic Field of Dreams, your table will be set for an evening of exceptional food, fine wine, and a true oncein-a-lifetime gathering at one of the most rare and coveted private estates
Inclusions:
Catered dinner for 12 guests in the Dunbar barn
Stunning views overlooking the Field of Dreams
Full beverage service and table settings provided
Access to 160 acres of pristine Colorado landscape
A private evening at one of Aspen's most exclusive and iconic private estates
Value: $50,000
Luxury Private Jet Experience
Tak h ki i l i l b d f h B
bardier Challenger 3500 (or similar) pri ve package accommodates up to nine (9) within the Continental United States, Me ess trip, or a once-in-a-lifetime ad formance, and luxury.
Restrictions:
Minimum of thirty (30) days advanced booking. Subject to aircraft availability and scheduling
Maximum of three (3) consecutive overnights
Expenses not included: special permits, handling fees and catering
Experience expires July 2, 2027.
Generously donated by
2026 Champion Candidates
Andrés Preschel is an exercise physiologist and biomedical neuroscientist, and founder of Know Your Physio, where he helps executives, entrepreneurs, athletes, and other high performers optimize their health through evidence-based strategies. He is also the host of the globally recognized Know Your Physio podcast, featuring leading experts in health, neuroscience, and human performance. Through his coaching and speaking, Andrés is dedicated to making the science of peak performance practical, accessible, and sustainable.
Growing up, I had the privilege of volunteering with the special needs community, an experience that shaped my belief in the importance of inclusion, friendship, and service. As the Beverage Director at Zigzag in Aspen, I love being part of a community built around bringing people together, and I’m excited to support Best Buddies’ mission of inclusion and friendship.
Jon Lorenzo
2026 Champion Candidates
BidFromtheHeart
The Value o
Best Buddies helps form meaningful friendships, secure successful jobs, provide family support, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communications skills, all while feeling valued by society.
$50,000
Supports a school-based friendship chapter for one year, creating opportunities for friendship, leadership development, and inclusion.
Provides year-round programming and social experiences for hundreds of individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)
$25,000
Provides inclusive social programming that fosters belonging and meaningful connections for participants and families.
Helps fund participant-centered experiences that build confidence, independence, and advocacy skills.
$10,000
Sends participants to leadership and empowerment experiences that develop selfadvocacy, public speaking, and leadership skills
Supports inclusive events that bring together individuals with and without IDD to build lasting friendships
$5,000
Supports participant attendance at leadership trainings and statewide programming Provides materials and resources that help chapters create inclusive experiences for their members
$2500
Supports participant engagement activities that strengthen community and belonging. Provides chapter resources that help recruit, engage, and retain student and adult participants
$1000
• Supports leadership and public speaking opportunities for Best Buddies Ambassadors
This Year's Entertainment
Elliott Riley Performer
Elliot is a 14 year-old rising high school freshman in Aspen Colorado. He lives with his parents and younger sister, Anna. Elliott loves the great outdoors, especially downhill skiing, Nordic skiing, and mountain biking! He is also very passionate about music and began playing cello at age 6. He joined the Best Buddies chapter at his high school last year and it has helped him establish genuine friendships with other children through exciting adventures and opportunities. Recently, he has been attending Ambassador Speaker Training and has spoken publicly about his experience with Best Buddies and his passion for the cello.
At 19 years old, Sonoma County singersongwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Woodard is rapidly establishing himself as a rising star in the music industry. Diagnosed with autism at age three, Ryan found his voice through music, defying expectations after being considered nonverbal until he was nine His extraordinary journey took a definitive leap forward at age 11 when he shared the stage with blues icon Buddy Guy. Since then, Ryan’s remarkable talent and story have captured international attention, earning features in Guitar World Magazine and a gifted Martin guitar from John Mayer. Website: RyanWoodardMusic.com Social Media: RyanWoodardRocks
Ryan Woodard Performer
Lucas Hunt Emcee and Auctioneer
