Come Play. Any Day. The Yard Peoria and the House Barbell Club are proud to be Best Buddies in Illinois supporters for SEVEN years! The Yard is the Midwest’s premier indoor training facility. Over 57,000 square feet of turf where you can play. Any day.
WELCOME Good evening, everyone! It is truly an honor to welcome you to this year’s Best Buddies Champion of the Year Gala. This is a night where we come together to celebrate friendship, inclusion, and the incredible power of community. Tonight, we gather not just as donors, partners, families, and friends but as advocates for a more inclusive world. A world where every person, regardless of ability, is seen, valued, and included. That is the heart of Best Buddies. Best Buddies is more than a program; it’s a movement. It’s about creating meaningful one-to-one friendships, integrated employment opportunities, and leadership development for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. And here in Illinois, we are proud to be part of something that is changing lives not just for those we serve, but for everyone who gets involved. Think about the power of friendship: of having someone who listens to you, celebrates your wins, and stands by you in the hard times. For many of us, it’s something we may take for granted. But for people with disabilities, friendship can often be hard to find in a world that still too often excludes. Best Buddies is changing that narrative. Across Illinois, in schools, workplaces, and communities, this program is building bridges by replacing isolation with connection and replacing barriers with belonging. We are witnessing firsthand the kind of transformation that happens when people are given the opportunity to shine. I’ve had the privilege of hearing and witnessing so many incredible stories. Stories of students who found their first real friend through Best Buddies; of individuals who landed their first job and are thriving; of families who say, “This program changed our lives.” These are not small moments. These are life-changing moments. And they are only possible because of the support, generosity, and love from people like you. Inclusion is not a one-night event. It’s a daily commitment. And tonight, as we celebrate all we’ve achieved and aim to raise additional funds, we also recommit ourselves to the work still ahead. Because inclusion is not a favor, it’s a right. And when we embrace that truth, our communities become stronger, more compassionate, and more vibrant. So, to our incredible participants, thank you for inspiring us with your courage, your joy, and your leadership. To our volunteers, teachers, employers, families, and donors, thank you for being part of this mission. Your support is what fuels the future of Best Buddies in Illinois. Tonight is a celebration, yes, but also a call to action. Let’s continue to build a world where everyone belongs. Thank you for being here. Thank you for believing in inclusion. And thank you for being part of the Best Buddies family. Have a wonderful evening!
In Friendship, Ashley Bellamy Central Illinois Champion of the Year Committee Chair
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
Provides an integrated experience in which people with and without IDD are active, contributing citizens - living independently in a dynamic environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive. Offers individuals with and without IDD an opportunity to live together in a vibrant, educational community that supports all residents in advancing their employment, financial literacy, continued educations, and life skills as they work to achieve their personal goals.
Connects families who are expecting or have a young child with IDD to experienced parents of a child with IDD, encouraging a genuine relationship rooted in mentorship, resource-sharing, and guidance.
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 1,000 people in Central 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.
$10,000 Life Changing Leadership Conference: Provide transportation for 30+ Central Illinois participants to Indiana University for Leadership Conference, where they will have the opportunity of a lifetime, learning leadership development skills to bring home to their communities, all while surrounded by leaders and participants from around the world.
$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 epal program allows participants to become more social and technology literate, which may lead to more advanced career opportunities.
Champion Candidates You may recognize Chase from his recent write up in the Journal Star covering his new buisness venture coming to Keller Station. Chase keeps himself involved in the growth and success of Peoria, doing so with the level of energy that could rival the Energizer Bunny. On top of this, Chase and his family are currently hosting exchange student, Joao.
Chase Brower Larry Cook has created quite the community here in Central Illinois. Both by keeping people lookin’ good through his Barbershop, Stay Sharp Barber Shop in Washington, but also by bringing the fun as DJ McFly. You can hear what he’s working with tonight during the Silent Disco! In his spare time, he remodels vans and travel trailers. Seems to us like Larry is a man of many talents!
Larry Cook
David Dille is no stranger to inclusion, coming back for his second year as a Champion of the Year Candidate, keeping the BTD legacy line of Champions strong. But it must run in the family- his daughter is currently a part of the Best Buddies chapter at Pekin High School. Way to go, Dad! It must be The Force being with you.
David Dille April Hanson is a Best Buddies in Illinois Jobs Participant who has worked at The Peoria Popcorn Shoppe downtown for two years as of yesterday! She enjoys attending her church and getting to know all the friends she has made there. Find April and her interpreter tonight and learn all about the importance of the Jobs Program and wish her a Happy Work-aversary!
Mikey Hilst
April Hanson
Mikey has a history of winning, as the innaugural Springfield Friendship Walk Top Fundraiser in 2025. Will he pull it off at this year’s Champion of the Year? Last year, he supported his older brother David’s run, and this year took on the challenge himself. He’s hoping to bring the spotlight from Peoria to Springfield! Outside of being a Best Buddies supporter, Mikey loves to travel around the world with his family. If you find out his favorite place to go, let us know!
Emily is a leader, there’s no other way to put it. From being the former President of the Rotary Club of Peoria to being the Owner and CEO of Foster-Jacob Electric, Emily serves her community. So it just makes sense that she’d be competing for Champion of the Year. She’s also a wife, a mom, and a friend to many! It sounds like inclusion is in her blood!
Emily Jacob- Rudesill
Ryan Jeffrey may be better known around here as DJ Real Juicy, and you’ll be able to tune into his channel all night. We’ve been told he loves to pop champagne, so maybe, if he wins it all, we’ll all get to enjoy some champagne showers! Inclusion is a part of the family in Ryan’s world too- his wife works for the Dunlap School District Special Education Department. Will he be able to bring it on home for her?
Ryan Jeffrey Cassie is a seasoned Best Buddies veteran, joining her Best Buddies chapter at Normal West in high school. Since then, she has gone on to be a part of all available programs in Illinois and to serve on the Central Illinois Advisory Board. If you’re interested in any of our incredible live auction items, you should talk to Cassie about her trip to Vegas with Champion of the Year!
Cassie Merrill
James Palen comes tonight from Springfield, joining Mikey in wanting to bring the belt to the 217. James runs Foam n’ Flight with Robert and has brought the fun to multiple Friendship Walks over the last two years. We’ll have multiple Friendship Walks this spring where you can join in for some inclusion and fun with Foam n’ Flight and James!
James Palen Jason Parkinson is our final DJ of the night, and after his second-place finish in the 2019 Champion of the Year Campaign, he’s looking to win it all this time. Jason works with TimbukTech, a long-time sponsor of Best Buddies, and is currently serving as President of the Rotary Club of Peoria. Hailing from the legacy line of Ryan LaCosse, we’ll see if he can pull off the win this year!
Jason Parkinson
Tim Risen is an 8-Time State Golf Champion (that’s a lot of medals!) and is looking to add Champion of the Year to his repertoire. He works at Peoria Production Solutions, where he operates the forklift. He’s been around Best Buddies for the last few years, and took on Champion of the Year from his friend, 2025 Champion candidate, Mitch. It’s Tim’s turn to see if he can trade his State Champ medals for the Best Buddies Belt.
Tim Risen
Robert is a Best Buddies volunteer and Legacy Champion, joining the pack from Heather Bouchez, but this wasn’t a part of his honey-do list. Robert is passionate about inclusion and shows up time after time to prove it. He works for CarWise Peoria (one dime down, you know the drill) and is a devoted father. While one of Robert’s children is an artist, so is he! Maybe if you ask, he’ll show off both of their work.
Robert Scholl
Abby Wheeler is an East Peoria High School Best Buddies alum. This past summer, she attended Leadership Conference at Indiana University, a life-changing trip for our participants, so make sure to ask her about it! Abby is currently in the Citizens chapter and is looking to make new friends. She is also hoping to find a job through the Jobs Program. If you’re interested in joining Citizens or hiring inclusively, let us Abby Wheeler know!
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Thank You To Our In-Kind Sponsors
Proud to support the
BESTBUDDIES CHAMPION OF THE YEAR GALA!
cefcu.com
Insured by NCUA
One of America’s Most Innovative Companies.
We believe innovation means better care. That’s why we’re committed to building it into everything we do, from precision dosing software to therapies that help patients avoid amputation. It’s why Fortune named OSF HealthCare One of America’s Most Innovative Companies – twice.
osfhealthcare.org/beyondbelief
BEST BUDDIES BEST BUDDIES IN IN SPRINGFIELD IS SPRINGFIELD IS GROWING THANKS GROWING THANKS TO TO AMERICAN FAMILY AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE! INSURANCE!
Guardian Uniform is proud to support David Dille in his 2026 Champion of the Year run. Go David! Located in Bartonville, offering law enforcement gear, professional embroidery services, firearms, and footwear.
Thank You To Our Table Sponsors
How to use GiveSmart for Mobile Bidding Use your smartphone to start bidding on items now.
Register: Text CILCOY26 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.
Programs across Illinois! Help us fill in the map!
10.23.27 Embassy Suites | East Peoria Join us for next years Gala!
Get Involved!
Join the Central Illinois Citizen Chapter!
Join us for THREE Walks next year! Champaign | Normal | Springfield
This Giving Tuesday give the gift
FRIENDSHIP
December 1, 2026 bestbuddies.org/illinois/donate bestbuddies.org/illinois/donate
Thank you to our Committee Members Thank you for your commitment to helping our programs grow all year long!
Ashley Bellamy, Chair Travis Platt, Honorary Co-Chair The Yard
Whiskey Crawler Creative
Stephanie Chaon Sponsorship Chair
Jason Parkinson LogisticsChair
Megan Jennings Publicity Chair
Goodfield State Bank
TimbukTech/DJ4U
Bob Grimm Chevrolet
If you’re interested in joining our committee or upcoming board, please contact Ryan LaCosse via email! Ryanlacosse@bestbuddies.org
MAKE A FRIEND | DONATE | VOLUNTEER 7800 N Sommer Dr, Ste 412 Peoria, IL 61614 P (309) 966-4146 | illinois@bestbuddies.org BESTBUDDIES.ORG/ILLINOIS