Circle of Champions
Our Champions truly epitomize the word “Champion” itself. This select group of leaders raises millions of dollars for Best Buddies annually, and they impact their local programs in an extraordinary and unprecedented way. While they compete for weeks, we revere their commitment to inclusion forever and lean on their wisdom to guide future Champions.
2,225
Champions
$36.6
Million Raised
Our 2023 Top 3
1 | $142,588.00
Tina Gulledge
South Carolina
2 | $137,401.45
Melissa Taylor
Palm Beach
3 | $117,048.00
Kaelyn Cassidy
North Florida
Our Nationwide Champion of the Year Winners
Alabama
Lillian Hill
$11,000.00+
Arizona
Kailey Sullivan
$105,610.46
California: Bay Area
BJ White
$31,795
California: Los Angeles
Kristen Van Handel
$66,000
California: San Diego
Kimberly Hazard
$57,231
Connecticut
Matt Davies & Val Sobol
$16,000.00
Delaware
Brianna Wolfle & Ben Moulder
$10,958.40
Florida: North Florida
Kaelyn Cassidy
$117,048.00
Florida: Orlando
Fabio Zacco & Marvin Fung
$46,613.00
Florida: Palm Beach
Melissa Taylor
$137,401.45
Florida: South Florida
Michelle Kligman & Carolina Rousell
$55,094
Florida: Southwest Florida
David Elkins & Julie Lyle
$7,585
Florida: Broward
Laura Geary
$33,410.00
Georgia
Andrew Dixon
$58,000
Illinois: Central Illinois
Beth Hayes
$23,520
Illinois: Chicago
Victoria Hill
$50,000.00
Indiana
Reid Brenton & Pete Steinkamp
$69.950.07
Iowa
Jennifer Taylor
$31,000.00
Kentucky
Ami Cain & Cam Brian
$17,415.00
Maine
Fiona MacArthur & Payton Brown
$52,000.00
Maryland
Team Brandon
$19,875.00
Michigan
Nick Paruch & John Wyskiel
$69,500.00
Minnesota
Sara Messerli and Maggie Erickson
$44,216.00
Mountain (CO & UT)
Lloyd Lewis & Kennedy Lewis
$31,248.93
New Hampshire
Jennifer Corriveau & James Masterson
$49,371.19
New Jersey
Angela Andrews & Holly Raymond
$28,338.93
New Mexico
Gracie Flanagan
$8,477.66
Western New York
Kettle Ridge Farms
$7,706.00
New York: Albany
Caroline Orr & Teagan Klingenber
$9,500.00
North Carolina
Sarah Richardson
$45,000.00
Ohio: Cleveland
Katie Kilmek
$65,000.00
Ohio: Columbus
Alex Rogers & Sharla Thomas
$20,000.00
Oklahoma
Asher Ward
$123,000.00
Oregon
Kendall Campbell
$44,000.00
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
Ashley Long
$9,159.00
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh
Chelsea Beaufort
$16,956.00
South Carolina
Tina Gulledge
$142,588.00
Tennessee
Steph DeSantis
$105,745.00
Texas: Houston
Jordyn Ensell & Juliette Molloy
$83,974.72
Texas: North Texas
Donny & Tysen Churchman
$10,995.00
Texas: Central Texas
Kate Avery & Laura Avery
$74,360.00
Washington
Courtney Block
$45,000
Washington, DC
Dave & Reilly Donovan
$64,850.00
Wisconsin
Don Weber & Jacob Borkin
$21,000.00