Welcome to the 2025 Gala for our Best Buddies Michigan “Champion of the Year” celebration! Tonight we come together to honor extraordinary leadership, advance the cause of inclusion, and celebrate the remarkable individuals who embody our mission: to create one-to-one friendships, meaningful employment, and leadership opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
This evening’s event is more than an awards ceremony it is a tribute to community, compassion, and commitment. It is made possible by the generosity of each of you: our Champions, donors, volunteers, families, and friends. Because of your dedication, we continue to break down barriers, elevate voices, and create thriving communities where everyone belongs.
As you turn the pages of this program, you’ll meet our 2025 Champion candidates, learn about their journeys and achievements, and discover how their efforts will fuel Best Buddies’ work throughout Michigan in the year ahead. Thank you for being here tonight, for supporting inclusion, and for believing that every person has value, every community is stronger when everyone participates, and every voice matters. Please join us in applauding our Champion of the Year and in recommitting ourselves to a world where no one stands alone.
Enjoy the evening. Dream big. And let’s keep working to ensure that everyone, everywhere, belongs.
With gratitude and excitement,
JonathanGanci Director of Mission Advancement
Thank
BidFromtheHeart
The Value of Your Donation Supp
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 - Start a Chapter!
This year, in Michigan, we would like to open 30 new school chapters.
$2,500 - Fund an Ambassador Event!
We have 11 participants in our ambassador academy cohort from Michigan with nine scheduled trainings!
$1,000 - Prepare Future Advocates!
This level supports sending representatives from Michigan to the Best Buddies Leadership Conference. We plan to send 15 number of participants to the 2026 conference in Bloomington, Indiana!
$500 - Changing One Life at a Time
Best Buddies in Michigan serves more than 1300 participants. The goal is to be at 1500 participants by the start of the next school year.
$250 - Match Made in Heaven
We have over 372 life changing matches a year in Michigan! Help us creating more meaningful friendships.
$100 - You’ve Got Mail!
We have over 100 participants in E-buddies! Help fund an E-buddies friendship.
2024 Champion of the Year
Alexis Fisher Raised $26,000
Alexis Fisher was the 2024 Champion of the Year for Best Buddies in Michigan. In her role as a Best Buddies Jobs participant and an active member of the Oakland County Citizens chapter, Alexis not only embraced new job-skills and friendships, but also served as an inspiring advocate for inclusion.
Over the course of her campaign, Alexis raised more than $26,000 to support Best Buddies’ mission of one-to-one friendships, inclusive employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Candidates
Lauren Allen & Ben Goldsworthy
Kelly Beattie Jake & Liza Wilson
Tracie Arnold
Stephanie Swiercz
Crystal Brooklier
Jose Montero Merena & Lorena Fadhil Grace Forlines
Simon Kantola
This Year's Entertainment
A big welcome to Bryon Coulter, a Best Buddies Oakland County Citizens chapter member, who’s here to share his incredible saxophone talent with us tonight! Bryon’s music always brings smiles and good vibes, and we’re thrilled to have him be part of this special celebration!
How to Bid
Register:
Text MICOY25 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
Thank You to Our Silent &
Live Auction Donors!
Ernst & Young
Mike Ross
The Pendry Chicago
Wines for Humanity
Aberrant Ales
Granite City Brewing
Detroit City Sports
Detroit Pistons
Cherry Republic
Marlaina Joy Photography
Ed Peterson
Black Rock
Meadowbrook theatre
Bivouac
Alyssa Patrias
Color Street Nails
Schlanderer & Sons
The Henry Ford
Hyperion Coffee
Joseph Ganci
Zingerman’s
Fustini’s Oil & Vinegar
Stuffed Brain Studios
Pure Fishing
Best in Games
Buddy’s Pizza
Xtrme Xperience
Mary Kay
Kruse and Muer
Crystal Brooklier
Target
Emagine Theatre
Simon Kantola
Washtenaw Golf Club
Miles of Golf Ann Arbor
University of Michigan Athletic Department
Champions Circle
Chemung Hills Golf Club
Touch of Lace
USPBL
Solitude Links
Rochester Residential & Commercial Cleaning
Tapper’s Jewelry
Hansen’s Hall
Sephora Somerset
Haig’s of Rochester Fine Jewelry
Attack Hunger
Peridot - Ann Arbor
The Ark
Balloon Quest Inc.
The Fenton Hotel
RailYard Fenton
Big Dog Photography
Nudge Printing
Greyson Clothiers
Soak Spa at the Detroit Club
Grounded Chiropractic
Pitaway
Urban Air
Lucky’s
Catching Fireflies
PRP Wines
Thank You to Our Supporters!
ThankyoutoTeam SephoraGreatLakes
Waymo is headed to Motown! Detroit is the city that put the world on wheels, and we’re excited to keep those wheels turning with our fully autonomous ride-hailing service. You’ll soon see us around as we familiarize ourselves with the city’s historic streets, ahead of serving riders.
We’re proud of our roots in Metro Detroit, including in Novi, where we’ve had an engineering team for many years. We’ve also regularly tested in Detroit during winter weather to develop our capabilities in snow and ice. We’ve made great strides in our efforts to operate in heavier snow – including testing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – and look forward to the 6th-generation Waymo Driver navigating Detroit streets this winter.
