Dear Friends,
Welcome to the 2025 Champion of the Year Gala Tonight, we come together to celebrate friendship, inclusion, and the extraordinary power of community This evening is about more than a campaign. It is about the connections we build, the lives we change, and the belief that every person deserves to belong.
On behalf of Best Buddies New Jersey, thank you for being here and for believing in our mission to create opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities Your presence tonight reflects a shared commitment to inclusion that extends far beyond this room
The success of this year’s campaign is a testament to the incredible dedication, compassion, and teamwork of our Champions, mission partners, board members, volunteers, and staff. Each of you played an essential part in making tonight possible. Every sponsorship, every donation, every auction bid, and every moment of encouragement has helped bring our mission to life. Because of your generosity, our programs will continue to grow, reaching more schools, expanding job opportunities, and building stronger, more inclusive communities across New Jersey.
The impact of your support will be felt every time a student finds a friend, every time a participant secures a meaningful job, and every time a community chooses to see ability before disability Together, we are creating opportunities that transform lives and ensuring that inclusion continues to thrive
Thank you for standing beside us, for celebrating with us, and for believing in the Best Buddies mission Tonight, we honor you and the friendships that make our work possible
With gratitude,
Guinevere Garlow Director of Mission Advancement
Best Buddies New Jersey
Thank You To Our Sponsors!
Advisory Board
Jenna Rosa - Board Chair
Brian Donohue
Courtney Mullin
Greg Dillon
Chris Weidman
Dana Nalbantian
Bret Flemming
Vanessa Clark
Event Committee
Maria Gonzalez - Committee Chair
Todd Abedrabbo - Marketing Chair
Vicki Withington - Volunteer Chair
Alexis Brisman - Social Media Chair
Belinda Morriss - Logistics
Beth Hornback - Logistics
