FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2026 HAROLD WASHINGTON LIBRARY | CHICAGO
WELCOME Dear Friends and Families of Best Buddies, Welcome to Chicago’s 2025 Champion of the Year Celebration! Tonight, inside the beautiful Harold Washington Library, we gather to honor friendship, inclusion, and the incredible individuals who make our mission come alive every single day. Each year, this event reminds us of what can happen when compassion meets action. Our Champion of the Year candidates have poured their hearts into raising awareness and funds for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Tonight is about celebrating their commitment and the life-changing impact it creates across our community. Over the past year, our programs have continued to grow in ways that truly inspire us. Through the Best Buddies Jobs Program, participants are finding not only employment but also belonging and purpose in workplaces that value their talents. We’ve expanded our mentoring and career development sessions—both online and in person—to help job seekers connect with meaningful opportunities. And as the world continues to evolve, so does our approach to creating inclusion everywhere. Here in Chicago, we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together. We have 150 schools across the state! Just since school started, we already have 4,980 members in these chapters and are already seeing new friendships being made. As for our adult friendships in the Citizens program, we have made 16 new matches in the past year. We currently have 268 people waiting to be matched if anyone is looking to take their involvement a step further. But Best Buddies doesn’t stop at Friendships. We have 33 participants who are signed up and ready to go with the newly launched Ambassador Academy and are celebrating Claire Toman becoming a Global Ambassador! In the Jobs world, we have 94 participants, with 59 of them employed. This year alone, 14 new job seekers have been hired! We have people employed at places like Accenture, Shedd Aquarium, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Ally Financial. These numbers tell a story, but the real impact is in the smiles, the confidence, and the friendships formed through this incredible movement. Every handshake, every shared laugh, every moment of encouragement builds a more inclusive world, one person at a time. Tonight’s celebration would not be possible without the generosity of our sponsors—Ulta Beauty, Aetna Better Health of Illinois, SC Johnson, Moco, Area Wide Realty, Misericordia, Waymo, and Shaker—and the dedication of our Advisory Board, Campaign Managers, Champions, and Best Buddies staff. Thank you for your time, your compassion, and your belief in what’s possible. To our friends and families: your presence here means the world. You remind us that inclusion is not just a goal; it is a community effort built on love, friendship, and hope. Enjoy tonight’s celebration. We are so grateful you’re here to share in the joy, and we can’t wait to see how your support helps us reach even greater heights in 2026. With heartfelt gratitude and friendship, Michelle Kurgan
Mission Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Who we serve Best Buddies serves individuals with IDD and their families. The IDD community includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities.
Programs Best Buddies programs sit on the five key mission pillars below: One-to-One Friendships Integrated Employment Leadership Development Inclusive Living Family Support
About Champion of the Year Champion of the Year unites the community's most active leaders in the name of inclusion. Through 10 weeks of raising funds and awareness for Best Buddies, our Champions will generate countless opportunities for friendship, jobs, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The dollars raised through the Champion of the Year campaign will immediately be put to work through the launch of new friendships and employment opportunities. This is an enormous gift to children, teens, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and the community as a whole. Best Buddies’ friendship, jobs, and leadership programs now impact over 5,000 people in Illinois - this movement could not happen without the support from people like you and me. So please know that when you give, it makes a huge difference.
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 communication skills, all while feeling valued by society. $7,500 More Than A Job: Underwrite the employment support that Best Buddies Jobs provides a person with IDD, allowing them to find a job, become financially independent, receive benefits, and work alongside others in the community.
$5,000 Gift of Friendship: 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.
$2,500 Training Day: 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 inclusion throughout their community.
$1,000 Prepare Future Advocates: Give a student leader, Ambassador, or Jobs participant the opportunity to attend the annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference, where they will learn to be advocates for themselves and the larger IDD community.
$250 It's A Match: Support a one-to-one friendship between someone and their peer, helping to build a mutually enriching connection that enhances the lives of program participants and their families.
$100 You've Got Mail: 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.
Champion Candidates 😉
Kristi is a Chicago-native, sadly an enduring Chicago sports fan , and proud Aunt to 3 nieces and a nephew. Kristi is a Managing Director at Accenture, where she reconnected with Best Buddies after participating as a Buddy during school. In her spare time, Kristi loves to travel, be outdoors, and spend time with family and friends – especially the kiddos! Bob Ageloff
After raising three boys and three Labradors in Connecticut with her husband Bob, Kim recently returned to Illinois, where she grew up, and continued her commercial and residential architectural-design practice. With her passion and experience in supporting special education, she became more involved with Best Buddies, where her son Kyle has thrived. Kim’s hobbies include practicing yoga, exercising, and spending time with cherished family & friends
Emmett Drea
Jourdan’s connection to the IDD community began at age five with her friend Katrina, who she spent every day with instead of recess. She later founded her high school’s Raiders for Autism club and joined Best Buddies in 2024, where she was matched with her friend Dana. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, Jourdan has lived in North Carolina, Mississippi, and Arkansas before settling in Evanston with her husband, Colton, and their cat, Crosby. She is a former sports anchor, avid reader, and new needlepointer.
Holly is a teacher at Woodstock North where she has served as a Best Buddies Advisor for over 10 years. What an incredible impact she has made! Holly not only moulds young minds in the classroom, but she is also a mother! Holly and her family live in Wisconsin and they love to spend their time outdoors and camping!
Stephen Hiatt-Leonard
Michelle Christopher
Betsey Farrington
Ken has spent his life learning the lessons of teamwork, inclusion, and belonging through the world of sports, both as a player and as a coach. He says that that is what Best Buddies represents to him- giving everyone a chance for the same sense of connection and opportunity. Inclusion isn’t just nice to have, its the foundation that allows people to shine. We couldn’t agree more Ken!
Amy has been a part of Best Buddies in some way for over 10 years now! She is currently the Deputy Director of the E-buddies program and would be happy to get you involved! Amy has had a number of friendships through Best Buddies, Katrina in High School, Victoria in College, and now Jack, in Citizens. These people and their friendships shaped Amy into the woman she is today, and are the reason why she is a Champion for Inclusion!
Monty Macon
Champion Candidates
Emmett Maude
Suzanne’s journey with Best Buddies began last year when she volunteered at the Champion of the Year Gala! She was inspired by the experience and joined Citizens, where she was matched with Nichelle in April. But her connection to the mission did not start there. Suzanne has a brother-in-law who has Down Syndrome which has led her to being involved with other orgs back at home as well. While she is originally from Columbus, Ohio, she has been in Chicago for a little over four years now and lives in the West Loop. She works at CitiBank but enjoys new restaurants, playing pickleball, and spoiling her French Bulldog, Bug, when she’s off the clock!
Sarah Nau is the Director of Labor Relations supporting Flight Operations (Pilots)for United Airlines. She currently lives just outside Chicago in Riverside with her husband, son, and two Great Danes. Lonnie Mitchell
Madison was meant for the red carpet! She graduated from the University of Utah and now works at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Madison believes that inclusion gives every voice the chance to be heard. And we couldn’t agree more! Inclusion runs in the family! Madison’s sister serves on the Advisory Board, and her mom and brother ran for Champion of the Year just last year. What a family legacy! Max Satler
Jada Tompson is a Best Buddies Global Ambassador, advocate for inclusion, and creative storyteller, and is matched with her friend Annie through the Citizens Program. She is also a board member of Chicagoland Autism Connection. As a content creator and advocate, Jada is dedicated to spreading the mission of inclusion and empowering individuals with and without disabilities to thrive and succeed in their communities.
Tammy Sullivan
Campaign Managers
Kristi Alplanalp
Kim Ageloff
Kyle Ageloff
Alec Braden
Zachary Fintel
Victoria Hill
Trace Nardi
Aviya Pinto
Topher Zheng
Ali Yancey
Thank you to our Advisory Board and Committee Members Thank you for your commitment and helping our programs grow all year long! Michelle Kurgan, Chair
Morgan Olszewski, Former Chair
Farmer’s Fridge
AIKANA Chicago
Danielle Bonfield, Gala Auction Co-Chair CrossCountry Mortgage
Nicole Marty, Gala Auction Co-Chair Kate Abbatacola
Kim Ageloff
Affirm
Allie Churchfield
Rushil Desai
AbbVie
Aetna Better Health of Illinois
Elizabeth Fay
Greg Macias
Lizzy Fay LLC
AbbVie
Sarah Nau
Charles Scharf
United Airlines
Kelso-Burnett Co.
Dana Wax
Molly Wiesman
Best Buddies
The Kelsey
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Thank You To Our In-Kind Sponsors
Area Wide Realty and MOCO are proud sponsors of tonight's Best Buddies in Illinois Champion of the Year Gala! Area Wide Realty and MOCO prioritize cultivating and developing a workplace that reflects inclusivity, development and growth of this charity! Our foundation is strengthened on the premise of harnessing our differences to create an inclusive and progressive environment in which everyone feels valued. When our talents are being fully utilized is when our organization’s goals are met - but only achievable when everyone plays their fullest part.
Shaker Recruitment Marketing is committed to doing the right thing through relationships, integrity, creativity, and excellence. That’s why, we are proud to support Best Buddies in Illinois and the Champion of the Year Gala!
Thank you to our Circle of Champions and all that they have done to advance the Best Buddies in Illinois since 2016!
11.13.26 Harold Washington Library | Chicago Want to be a champion? Contact illinois@bestbuddies.org
Join us for TWO Walks next year! Chicago | Will County https://www.bestbuddies.org/illinois/friendship-walk
How to use GiveSmart for Mobile Bidding Use your smartphone to start bidding on items now.
Register Text ChicagoCOY25 to 76278 Bid -Click the blue link within the Welcome text -From our home page, click "items", browse or use the dropdown menu to view categories, then select an item -Use the pre-populated minimum bid or enter a higher amount -Select AUTO BID, enter the highest amount you are willing to bid. The system will place minimum bids for you as needed until your designated amount -Click Bid
How to participate in the Silent Disco! Grab the headphones at your seat and join us for an inclusive party! You can pick your station, pick your volume, and have fun! Controls can be found on either side of the headphones.
6:30 PM – Cocktail Hour 7:30 PM – Guests to Seats for Dinner 7:45 PM – Program Begins 8:15 PM – Silent Auction Closes 8:20 Live Auction and Bid from the Heart Begins 8:45 PM – Silent Disco 9:30 PM – Champion Crowned 11 PM – Event concludes
MAKE A FRIEND | DONATE | VOLUNTEER 230 W. Monroe Street, Suite 1450 Chicago, IL 60606 P 312.828.9313 | illinois@bestbuddies.org BESTBUDDIES.ORG/ILLINOIS