Champion of the Year: Minnesota

Unites and recognizes the community’s most active leaders in the name of inclusion.

November 15, 2024

6:00 PM | Minneapolis, MN

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Thank You!

Thank you for participating in this year’s Champion of the Year event! Because of you, we were able to raise funds to sustain and help expand our Best Buddies programs in the area. We look forward to having you at next year’s event. With your help and support, our mission of inclusion lives on!

Best Buddies Champion of the Year is a competitive fundraising campaign that unites and recognizes leaders of inclusion in local communities nationwide.

Champion Candidates commit to raising funds and awareness for Best Buddies throughout their campaign. Our Champions advocate for the Best Buddies mission and will generate countless opportunities for friendships, jobs, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support. At the Best Buddies Champion of the Year celebration, we honor the Champions’ collective impact and name the ultimate Champion of the Year!

Registration Deadline: Ticket sales will close on Friday, November 1st or when the event sells out. Don’t wait to purchase your tickets – last year we sold out 6 weeks early!

Event Features: Your ticket includes passed hors d’oeuvres, drinks from the hosted bar, plated dinner with wine pour, dessert, live entertainment, free parking, and access to the silent auction, live auction, and other games throughout the evening.

We hope to raise $290,000 at this event – all funds will be used locally to support Best Buddies programs and participants in Minnesota. You can support Best Buddies and help us continue to provide meaningful opportunities to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by supporting a Champion’s campaign, purchasing tickets, becoming a corporate sponsor, donating to and/or participating in the auction, or making a general donation to the cause.

Schedule

Friday, November 15, 2024
VIP Hour for Champions, Mission Partners, Board Members, and Sponsors: 5:30 PM
Doors Open, Check-In, Hosted Bar and Silent Auction: 6:00 PM
Seated Dinner, Program, Live Auction & Fund-a-Need with WCCO’s Pauleen Le: 7:00 PM
2024 Champion of the Year Announcement: 9:15 PM
After Party with DJ B-Rock: 9:30 PM
Event Concludes: 11:00 PM

Location

Quincy Hall
1325 Quincy St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

Event Contact

KateyDeMarais@bestbuddies.org

Meet our Champion Candidates

Congrats to our 2023 Minnesota Champion of the Year

Sara Messerli and Maggie Erickson
Raised $44,216.00 for Best Buddies in Minnesota
2023

Minnesota

Sara Messerli and Maggie Erickson
$44,216.00

A Glimpse of the Party...

Best Buddies Logo

Why Participate...

All funds raised benefit Best Buddies – the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families.

The IDD community that 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.

We Love our Sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor

Signature Sponsor

Additional Sponsors

Gillette Childrens Sponsor Logo
Federated Insurance Sponsor Logo
Burns McDonnell Sponsor Logo
Bachman's Sponsor Logo
HPPN Sponsor Logo
AON Sponsor Logo
Abdo Sponsor Logo
Kathleen Blatz and Greg Page Sponsor Logo
Innova Sponsor Logo
RBC Sponsor Logo
Voyage Sponsor Logo
Winning Abilities logo
First light logo
Gagnon Sponsor Logo
Hue Interiors Sponsor Logo
Legends Sponsor Logo

For sponsorship opportunities and other event inquiries, please contact:

KateyDeMarais@bestbuddies.org