Best Buddies Champion of the Year Celebration Planned for Nov 9

(Indianapolis, Ind. – Oct. 27, 2017) After an intensive eight-week, competitive fundraising campaign for Best Buddies Indiana’s signature programs helping people with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD), the organization’s 2017 Champion of the Year campaign will conclude on November 9 at its “Party with a Purpose” celebration at the Indiana State Museum.

Over the course of the campaign, a select group of seven professionals prominent in the Indiana community have conducted numerous activities to raise money for Best Buddies, ranging from basketball camps, comedy shows and partnerships with jewelry stores and restaurants. All money raised during the Champion of the Year campaign will benefit the Best Buddies’ mission in Indiana 100 percent.

“Our Champion of the Year candidates are leaders who are compassionate, socially active, philanthropic, well-networked and passionate about making a difference in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as highly competitive,” explained Natalie Seibert, State Director of Best Buddies Indiana. “Our nominees have been extremely creative this year and are on target to meet our fundraising goal. We will reveal the individual who raised the most money and earned the ultimate title of Champion of the Year at our Party with a Purpose on November 9.”

This year’s Champion of the Year Candidates and their affiliations are:

• Amee Wildey, Anthem and a Best Buddies Citizens member
• Shannon Eaves, Eskenazi Health and a Best Buddies Citizens member
• Matt Quoss, PERQ Marketing and a Best Buddies Citizens member
• Mariah Weddle, Franklin College Best Buddies Vice President
• Emily Decker, Cox Enterprises/Manheim, Indianapolis
• Scott Long, Comedian and parent of child in Fishers Junior High School Best Buddies program
• Rebecca Bream, Patch.com and a former member of the IU Best Buddies chapter

All of the Champion of the Year Candidates are assisted by a Buddy, a person with IDD who serves as their campaign manager.

To make a donation to Best Buddies’ Champion of the Year campaign or to purchase tickets for Party with a Purpose, visit https://bestbuddieschampion.org/indiana/rsvp/. Tickets for Party with a Purpose are $75 per person, which includes heavy hors d’oeuvres; wine, beer and soda; a silent auction and DJ-provided music. Brian Bondus of Fox59-TV (and previous member of Best Buddies Carmel) will be the master of ceremonies. During the event which begins at 7:00 p.m., Champion candidates will be introduced and the 2017 Champion of the Year will be crowned.

Donations received through the Champion of the Year fundraising initiative will help support Best Buddies’ programs for elementary, middle, high school and college students where students with IDD form friendships with their peers, as well as other programs that help people with IDD secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communications skills and feel valued by society. These programs include Best Buddies Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters and Citizens.

“The number of individuals with IDD in Indiana who are benefiting from Best Buddies’ programs continues to grow,” said Seibert. “Charitable donations by donors and corporate sponsors are vital to our ability to create inclusive schools and communities and to empower people with IDD. We hope that advocates of our mission will join us at Party with a Purpose and/or support a Champion of the Year candidate through a charitable donation.”

For information about Best Buddies Indiana, please contact Natalie Seibert at natalieseibert@bestbuddies.org or 317.436.8440.

About Best Buddies Indiana

Best Buddies Indiana serves more than 5,700 youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through chapters at elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, corporations and in the community, and a jobs program, providing life-changing opportunities for friendship, integrated employment, and leadership development. To learn more, please visit http://bestbuddies.org/indiana.