Dear Friends, Welcome to The HeART of Inclusion! At the heart of every community is the desire to belong, to be seen, to be valued, and to know that you matter. Tonight, we come together to celebrate that very thing—the power of friendship, the beauty of inclusion, and the incredible individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who make our communities stronger, brighter, and more connected.
At Best Buddies, we believe that friendship is more than just a connection. It is an opportunity to be understood, to build confidence, to discover your potential, and to experience the simple joy of having someone in your corner. Everyone deserves that kind of friendship, and together, we are working to make it a reality. Our Champion of the Year celebration recognizes extraordinary individuals who have stepped forward to be advocates for inclusion. Throughout their campaigns, these Champions have generously given their time, shared their hearts, and rallied their communities to raise critical funds and awareness for the mission of Best Buddies. Every dollar raised through our Champions and tonight's gala represents something greater than a donation. It represents a new friendship waiting to be formed, a student finding their place, a young adult discovering their voice, or an individual being given the opportunity to thrive in a workplace that values their abilities. Your generosity directly supports Best Buddies programs throughout Colorado, creating meaningful friendships, developing leaders, expanding inclusive employment opportunities, and opening doors for individuals with IDD across our state. But perhaps the greatest impact of your support cannot be measured in dollars. It is found in the friendships that last beyond the classroom, the confidence that comes from being included, and the joy of knowing you belong. To our donors, volunteers, Champions, and community partners—thank you. Thank you for seeing the value in every individual, for believing in a more inclusive future, and for helping us build a world where no one has to wonder if they belong. Because of you, friendships are formed, lives are changed, and inclusion becomes more than a mission —it becomes a reality. Tonight, we celebrate the heart behind it all. And that heart is you. In Friendship,
Kelli Anderson Kelli Anderson, State Director, Best Buddies in Colorado
Thank You To Our Sponsors!
Colorado Board Members
Event Planning Committee
First Name, Last / Company | First Name, Last / Company | First Name, Last / Company | First Name, Last / Company | First Name, Last /
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 communications skills, all while feeling valued by society. $5,000 • A middle school, high school, or college Chapter for a year • The cost of the room and food to host 250+ Best Buddies members to the statewide Friendship Ball $2,500 • 10 buddy runners to participate in the ION Bank Cheshire Half Marathon or 5K or Team Best Buddies Relay $1,000 • The cost to send a Buddy to the Leadership Conference (Registration and Air) • A tent at the walk • DJ or photo booth for a statewide Best Buddies event $500 • Bus to transport a school chapter to the Friendship Walk or Friendship Ball • Registration for a buddy to attend the Leadership Conference • The cost of a flight to send a student leader to the Leadership Conference in Indiana $250 • Citizens/Ambassador bowling party • 1 buddy runner to participate in the ION Bank Cheshire Half Marathon • The cost of buying t-shirts for a school chapter $100 • The cost to send 4 buddies to the Buddy Ball • The cost to send a buddy to the Party with a Purpose • Transportation for 2 ambassadors to give public speeches • The cost of a pizza party for a school chapter
Champion Candidates and Mission Partners
Angel and Skyler
Steven and Annie
Jeff and Amanda
Zach and Jeremy
Kathryn and SJ
This Year's Entertainment Blake Hortsmann first came to the attention of the public as a contestant on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. However, while he was not lucky in love on TV, he did find his calling in the music industry while guest DJ’ing a fellow Bachelor alumni’s event. Through his dedication to his craft, a passion for music, and some questionable dance moves, Blake gained momentum as a DJ, playing in clubs from LA to NYC and a residency in his home town of Denver, CO. As of Spring 2022 Blake has joined Roadhouse, a collaboration project with DJ Silver, the first DJ to ever be signed to a Nashville label.
How to Bid Register: Text CTCHAMPS to (76278) Donate: Text the word GIVE and amount (dollar sign not required) to (76278) *You can also bid in the silent auction once you’ve registered
Proud Sponsor of Best Buddies FaegreDrinker is proud to partner with and support Best Buddies. At the heart of our firm is a dedication to community engagement, fostering partnerships to keep our neighborhoods healthy, vibrant, and connected.
faegredrinker.com
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Walk. Celebrate. Support.
05.02.27 9:00 AM | Wash Park The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading walk in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (also known as IDD). BESTBUDDIESFRIENDSHIPWALK.ORG/CO
Kelli Anderson, State Director kellianderson@bestbuddies.org
MAKE A FRIEND | DONATE | VOLUNTEER To find your local Best Buddies office, visit: BESTBUDDIES.ORG