Lower Merion High Senior Honored By Best Buddies International

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — A Lower Merion High School senior has been honored for her work helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through Best Buddies International.

Best Buddies is a nonprofit group that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

And this week, the group will honor Ally Altshuler.

Altshuler is the co-president of Lower Merion High School's Best Buddies Program and has been involved in the program since sixth grade.

She has also participated in the Lower Merion Soccer Club Special Needs Program, Philly Friendship Circle, her Hebrew school's special needs classroom, and was a role model in Lower Merion’s Social Learning Lab classroom.

“Best Buddies has been and will continue to be a very important part of my life," Altshuler said. "As a Champion Candidate, I am committed to raising awareness and funds for this life-changing mission. I am so grateful for your support."

Altshuler and Emily Kwon, of Marple Newtown High School, will be honored at Best Buddies' Champion of the Year Gala in Philadelphia. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Drexelbrook in Drexel Hill.

Champion of the Year is an annual fundraising competition featuring a select group of individuals, professionals, and prominent community leaders. They compete to raise the most funds for Best Buddies and earn the title of Champion of the Year. By reaching out to the community to raise funds and spread awareness, candidates champion for the Best Buddies mission, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The gala will celebrate the efforts of seven philanthropic leaders from Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs while partying with a purpose to raise funds for Best Buddies programs. The event includes a silent and live auction, dinner, cocktails, dancing, a keynote address, and a special awards ceremony. This year’s Champion of the Year Gala will raise funds to support Best Buddies programs for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Tickets are still available for the 2023 Champion of the Year Gala. Attendees will be part of Best Buddies’ goal to expand more opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with IDD living in the Philadelphia region.

More information and tickets are available online here.

Sponsors for this year’s Best Buddies in Philadelphia Champion of the Year Gala include Spread Bagelry, Wegmans, Fairman Group Family Office, JP Mascaro and Sons, Trulieve, Tito’s Vodka, and the K10 Kids Foundation.