Every Effort Counts: Best Buddies IN's Annual Campaign Underway

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Best Buddies Indiana's 2018 Champion of the Year campaign is officially underway. It's Best Buddies Indiana's fifth year for their eight-week Champion of the Year campaign, during which each Champion candidate commits to raising a minimum of $2,500 for Best Buddies from Sept. 13 through Nov. 10. However, many of the candidates and their campaign managers - a member of Best Buddies - raise much more than that.

This year's campaign kicked off Thursday, Sept. 13 during a fun, annual Kick-Off party at Liter House in Broad Ripple, during which this year's candidates and their campaign managers were introduced.

The candidates for the 2018 Champion of the Year campaign and their managers are:

• Christine Ellis: English Teacher at Carmel High School and former President of Best Buddies Butler University chapter. Campaign Manager: Kylene Webber.
• Melissa Diekelmann: Special Education Intense Interventions Teacher, Best Buddies Chapter Advisor, and Unified Sports Coach at Griffith High School. Campaign Manager: Claire Guernsey
• Mollie Noble: Employed at JC Penney and Goodwill, Advisory Board Member at Best Buddies Indiana and Best Buddies International, Best Buddies Global Ambassador. Campaign Manager: Katie Harting
• Patrick Miller: Product Solution Manager at RICS Software, recently earned his MBA from Butler University. Campaign Manager: Zach Curtis
• Team West - Zella Hendrickson, Anne Maslanka and Abby McKean, Special Education Teachers at Noblesville West Middle School. Campaign Manager: Noah Morris
• Gabi Stigter: Sophomore at Carmel High School and member of CHS Best Buddies chapter, Best Buddies Peer Ambassador and the youngest candidate yet to participate in Champion of the Year in Indiana. Campaign Managers: Donna Hammock and Sky Simpson
• Marie Maher: Founder and CEO of Synapse Sitters, an online network of specialized sitters for parents of children on the autism spectrum and other intellectual and developmental disorders. Campaign Manager: Megan Strauss
• Mike Tirman: Real Estate Attorney at Ice Miller LLP, which is a law firm; Participated on the Planning Committee for the 2018 Best Buddies Friendship Walk Indianapolis. Campaign Manager: Andrew Cutter
• Stacey McCreery: Founder and President of ROI Search Group, a talent search agency specializing in the health care and life sciences industries. Campaign Manager: Katie Cortelyou
• Kim Miller: Director of Human Resources at TCC – The Cellular Connection, which is one of the Best Buddies Jobs program employment partners. Campaign Manager: RJ Zeph (employed at TCC through Best Buddies Jobs).
• Marc Mullins: Anchor/Reporter for WRTV-6 The Indy Channel. Campaign Manager: Hugh Breen

The work of Best Buddies Indiana, including the annual eight-week campaign, impacts more than 60,000 others throughout Indiana (5,000 more than when linked story was published last year), and over one million people worldwide. Best Buddies Indiana, the non-profit's Hoosier headquarters location for the world's largest organization (Best Buddies International), is dedicated to empowering and creating opportunities and friendships for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). During the 2017 campaign, candidates and their campaign managers raised a total of $78,000 to do just that.

Each Champion candidate works with their campaign manager and Best Buddies Indiana staff to plan their eight-week long campaign to raise funds and awareness for Best Buddies in almost any and as many ways as they choose, including special events, writing letters, restaurant and store percent nights and give-backs, silent and live auctions, sponsorships and much more, according to Marcia Clutter, Deputy Director of Development for Best Buddies Indiana.

According to Clutter, every dollar raised, as well as weekly incentive awards that candidates can win, counts toward the candidate's campaign total, which is kept confidential. Fundraising continues into the Best Buddies Annual Gala, when the final tally will be added up, and the 2018 Champion of the Year will be announced.

The top three competitors receive prizes for their participation, and the Champion of the Year and their campaign manager will be featured on a billboard or transit ad in the Indianapolis area for several weeks.

RELATED:

• Best Buddies IN: Empowering Over 55,000 One Friendship At A Time
• Best Buddies IN: Power Of e-Buddies Program

Just how much of the donations collected will help people with IDD?

According to Best Buddies Indiana, 100 percent. Corporate sponsors underwrite the costs of the kick-off reception and gala awards ceremony. All money raised by nominees will benefit the Best Buddies mission in Indiana. 100 percent.

How can I help?

By financially supporting a candidate's campaign, and/or through volunteering to help Champion candidates with their events and fundraising efforts.

Corporate sponsorships are also available, including sponsoring a candidate.

Other ways to get involved

Best Buddies Indiana is thriving with the organization's to one-to-one friendships between young adult community members, and are encouraging volunteers to join one of the newer Best Buddies friendship programs, Best Buddies Citizens, they're also seeking volunteers for their e-Buddies program.

More information on this year's campaign, or on Best Buddies Indiana friendship programs, visit bestbuddieschampion.org/Indiana or contact Marcia Clutter via marciaclutter@bestbuddies.org or 317-436-8440 x40.

Image via Best Buddies Indiana, feature the 2017 Champion of the Year campaign winner, Emily Decker (right) and her campaign manager Kylene Webber (left).