Best Buddies Maine Champion of the Year Program

Is a the Proud Lead Sponsor of

BEST BUDDIES and INCLUSION

This eight-week philanthropic competition for Best Buddies in Maine celebrates Best Buddies participants and community leaders throughout the State who have been nominated as “Champions” to raise funds and increase awareness for the mission of Best Buddies. Following an eight-week campaign, all candidates are being 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 2021 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 Maine 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!

Rebecca Williams Rebecca Williams Director, Mission Advancement, Best Buddies in Maine

All donations are tax-deductible under all ME laws of tax deductible donations for 501(c)(3) organizations.

How Donations = Programmatic Support

$5,000

$3,000

$2,500

Gift of Friendship

Party With A Purpose

Training Day

Bring together people with and without IDD for friendships that cultivate community-wide social inclusion by funding a new school, citizens or corporate chapter in the Best Buddies Friendship program.

Create a magical evening where buddy pairs celebrate and have fun at the Best Buddies Friendship Ball, similar to a prom for our middle school, high school and college members.

Fund an Ambassador training session for up to 50 people with and without IDD, giving them the public speaking skills to champion for inclusion throughout Kentucky

$1,000 Prepare Future Advocates Give a student leader, Ambassador, or Faculty Advisor the opportunity to attend the annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference, where they will learn to advocate for themselves and the IDD community.

$100

$350

$250

Gift of Chapter Dues

It’s A Match!

Help alleviate a high school or college chapter of its $350 annual dues which provides a library of online resources, membership management program, use of the Best Buddies name and logo, and liability insurance.

Support a one-to-one friendship between someone with IDD and his or her peer, helping to build a mutually enriching connection that enhances the lives of program participants and their families.

$50

You’ve Got Mail!

Prep For Success

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.

Provide an hour of job coaching, where an employment candidate with IDD has the opportunity to practice interview skills, prepare for job readiness, or receive on-the-job support so he or she can excel in a new placement.

$25 Teach Inclusion At An Early Age Supply instruction for interactive activities, lesson plans and tool kits for school students in a Best Buddies chapter so that they can learn about acceptance and inclusion at a young age.

Many THANKS to Our Sponsors:

MEET THE C

Eva Williams, GHS Sophomore

Scott Kent, Retired COO United Insurance

Charlie Saffian, Strive Bayside Student

Marty Madden, Senior Financial Advisor Merrill Lynch

George Brown, YHS Freshman

CHAMPIONS

Cierra Byrne, RN, MMC

Abby Davies,

Hannah Hutchins, UNE Senior

Elle Jowett, GHS Junior

Root Dental

Jennifer Weber, Director of Sales Anthem, Inc

Sunday, May 15, 2022 Cheverus HS Register Your Team Today:

BESTBUDDIESFRIENDSHIPWALK.ORG/MAINE Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

Contact RebeccaWilliams@BestBuddies.org

Friendships for Adults: CITIZENS During the pandemic, Best Buddies provided opportunities for adults to engage socially through weekly zoom meetings. Now they are ready to take on the world for friendship.

To get involved, contact RebeccaWilliams@bestbuddies.org

Mission Best Buddies International is a non-profit 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).

Who We Serve The IDD Community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, fragile X syndrome, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities.

Programs Best Buddies programs sit on the four key mission pillars below:

Maine Programs COLLEGE CHAPTERS

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPTERS

University of New England

Greely High School

University of Maine at Orono

Yarmouth High School

Colby College

Falmouth High School Cape Elizabeth High School Cheverus High School Lisbon High School

MIDDLE SCHOOL Falmouth Middle School Greely Middle School Freeport Middle School

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHAPTERS Mabel I Wilson School Brixom Friends Montessori

CITIZENS CHAPTERS Greater Portland Greater Bangor

Maine Advisory Board Rachel A. Williams, Board President, CCNS David Jowett, VP, Installed Accounts, Tyler Technologies Jodie Hall, Community Engagement Coordinator, The Glickman Lauder

Center of Ex-cellence Scott Wentzell , Partner Marketing Manager, Wex Gail Frongillo, Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley Liz Kalil, Speech Language Therapist Scott Kent, retired COO, United Insurance Rob McPheeters, VP Strategy , EnviroLogix Amy Parker, MD, Maine Health Terry Brown, Owner, Psycholitics

Want to get your company or workplace more involved with Best Buddies? We offer Ambassador trainings, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Lunch and Learn series, and ongoing Partnerships.

Email RebeccaWilliams@bestbuddies.org to take the first step in creating a more inclusive work environment.

Circle of CHAMPIONS Best Buddies will be forever grateful for the Champions that have been helping Best Buddies push our mission forward since 2019 including these past winners: 2019 Stacey Ryan 2020 Jaime Kiesow

2020 Grand Champ Jaime Kiesow

Best Buddies in Maine PO Box 573 Cumberland , ME 04021 maine@bestbuddies.org