2025 Minnesota Champion of the Year Program Booklet

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH

QUINCY HALL

Mission Statement

Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Learn more and get involved at www.bestbuddies.org/minnesota and follow us on social media @bestbuddiesmn

Dinner Menu

Salad

Simple salad with spring mix, tomato, shaved carrot and balsamic vinaigrette (GF, VG, NF)

Main Course

Chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella, sundried tomatoes and spinach served with a creamy garlic sauce (GF, NF) accompanied by roasted rosemary red potatoes and roasted green top carrots (GF, VG, NF)

OR

Za'atar Grilled Cauliflower Steak with stewed black lentils on a pepita romesco sauce (GF, VG, NF)

Dessert

Nothing Bundt Cake Bundtinis in Confetti and Chocolate Chocolate Chip (GF bundtinis notated by purple paper)

Locally roasted coffee will be available at the coffee station near the bar after the program concludes

Evening Program

State Director Welcome

Welcome to 8th Annual Best Buddies in Minnesota Champion of the Year Gala! Tonight, we celebrate friendship, inclusion, and the incredible people who make this community shine. Every smile, connection, and act of kindness shared through Best Buddies reminds us that life is better when you feel like you belong.

This year, we’ve seen friendships deepen, leaders emerge, and workplaces and schools across Minnesota grow more inclusive, because of you. Your generosity fuels our mission and keeps the spirit of Best Buddies alive all year long. Together, we’re empowering people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities to share their gifts, their voices, and their joy.

From elementary school through adulthood, Best Buddies is changing lives, and I’m grateful to continue expanding our impact across Minnesota. On behalf of our entire team, thank you for being here and for all you do to make this work possible.

May tonight’s celebration inspire you to be a champion for inclusion!

Katey DeMarais

State Director, Best Buddies in Minnesota

How to Donate & Bid

2025 Champion Candidates

Each of these individuals has committed countless hours over the last several weeks to raise funds and awareness for Best Buddies in Minnesota. The time, energy, and passion they have given is admirable and we are honored to celebrate them tonight.

Champions, it is a direct result of your efforts that more people than ever know of and support Best Buddies in Minnesota. The entire Best Buddies team is immensely grateful for your commitment and dedication to our mission of inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Read full Champion bios starting on Page 16.

2025 Mission Partners

Best Buddies believes that having someone to lean o best way to reach your goals, so we brought that to Mission Partners!

Each of these individuals has a connection to Best with a Champion Candidate to cheer them on, help sp their campaigns, and share more about the impact of you Mission Partners for relentlessly working to ma inclusive place!

2024 Champion of the Year

Maureen Cahill

Raised $50,124!

Congratulations to Maureen Cahill for being crowned the 2024 Grand Champion! She and her Mission Partner, Amelie Wall, raised over $50,000 to support Best Buddies programs throughout the state of Minnesota.

Maureen Cahill is a public relations and marketing executive who has more than 30 years of experience in journalism, corporate communications, agency and nonprofit leadership. She is a partner at Bellmont Partners in Edina. Maureen has a passion for helping people and has been involved with many international, national and local nonprofits serving both as a board member and volunteer representing a variety of issues and causes.

Maureen learned of Best Buddies through her daughter, Megan, and fell in love with the organization and wanted to get involved. She has been involved with Best Buddies in Minnesota for the last four years, serving on the Advisory Board, participating in the Twin Cities Citizens program, and running as a Champion Candidate.

“Now more than ever, creating inclusion for all is critical and we can all help to make our communities a kinder and more welcoming place for everyone.”

- Maureen Cahill

What is Champion of the Year?

Best Buddies Champion of the Year is a competitive fundraising campaign that unites and recognizes the community’s most active leaders of inclusion. Champion Candidates commit to raising funds and awareness for Best Buddies over an 8-12 week campaign.

Our Champions are advocates for the Best Buddies mission and will generate countless opportunities for friendships, jobs, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Tonight we celebrate and honor the Champions’ collective impact and name the ultimate Champion of the Year!

Jessica Berkelman & Patrick Elmore | Mission Moment

Buddy Pair in the Best Buddies

Citizens Program

Jessica and Patrick were matched through the Best Buddies Citizens Program on December 10, 2020, after both wrote each other’s names down as their preferred match. They instantly connected over their shared love of Minnesota sports and have spent the past five years building a friendship full of kindness, laughter, and unforgettable memories, from movie nights and sporting events to walks and dinners.

They’ve supported each other through life’s big moments too, like cheering at Patrick’s Special Olympics events, celebrating Jessica’s Twin Cities Marathon, and being crowned the 2022 Best Buddies Champion of the Year together. Patrick was honored to stand in Jessica’s wedding in 2023, and today, the two are proud coworkers at UnitedHealthcare.

Through Best Buddies, Jessica and Patrick found more than friendship — they discovered confidence, community, and the true power of inclusion. Together, they’ve shown that one friendship can change everything.

Follow their friendship on Instagram: @patrickandjess

Brock Stepan | Entertainment

DJ B-Rock

B-Rock is a vinyl DJ with roots in the Minneapolis hip-hop scene for nearly 20 years. He has played at venues like the Varsity Theater and Fine Line and set the musical stage for brands like Nike and the Vikings. Through decades of record-digging he has curated over 3,000 records spanning multiple genres. Combining his wide selection with the technical chops honed on turntables, he is able to recontextualize music in ways never heard before that stir the body to groove. Vinyl and a good hifi system offer the best music experience. His goal is to share this with others and guide them on their own music and hifi journey by making all aspects more accessible.

Check him out on Instagram: @DJB_Rock

Bid From the Heart

The Value of Your Donation

Your support helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) form friendships, gain independence, and become leaders in their schools and communities. Every gift makes an impact!

$10,000 | Transform Lives Across Minnesota

Lead the way in creating a more inclusive Minnesota! A gift at this level fuels statewide growth helping Best Buddies launch new initiatives, expand our impact into more communities, and provide life-changing friendship, leadership, and job opportunities for individuals with IDD.

$5,000 | Open a New School Chapter

Bring friendship and inclusion to a new school! Your support creates a new Best Buddies chapter, pairing students with and without IDD in one-to-one friendships and fostering a welcoming environment for all.

$2,500 | Sponsor the Best Buddies Friendship Ball

Create a magical, unforgettable evening! Your gift makes it possible for students in Best Buddies to attend our annual inclusive dance where they can dress up, celebrate, and enjoy time together with their buddy.

$1,000 | Send a Student to Leadership Conference

Empower the next generation! Your gift covers all expenses for one student leader to attend the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference to gain advocacy skills, confidence, and inspiration to foster greater inclusion at school.

$500 | Host a Citizens Chapter Celebration

Bring adults together in friendship and community! Your gift funds a gathering for adults with and without IDD, providing a space to socialize and feel included, valued, and celebrated in their community.

$250 | Provide Welcome Kits for New Chapters

Help new chapters start strong! Provide Welcome Kits with resources, guides, activity materials, and fun items to recruit members, plan inclusive events, and cultivate friendship from day one.

$100 | Support a Buddy Pair

Create a meaningful connection! Your gift supports one buddy pair, giving them the opportunity to develop a strong one-to-one friendship.

We've been friends for years, but Best Buddies has brought us even closer. Now we're best friends who share and go on many adventures together!"

- Jasper

Thank You Thank You Thank You

TO OUR CHAMPIONS

Thank You Thank You Thank You

TO OUR CHAMPIONS

Thank You Thank You Thank You

TO OUR CHAMPIONS

Shelby’s commitment to inclusion is deeply personal. Her aunt Katie, who has Down syndrome, has been one of the greatest inspirations in her life and the reason Shelby champions opportunities for individuals with IDD. Shelby has been a proud supporter and model for the Dreaming Big Without Limits Fashion Show, created by Mikayla Holmgren— an initiative that celebrates confidence, diversity, and belonging for all.

A well-respected figure in the pageant community, Shelby holds an impressive record as a five-time Wisconsin State Titleholder with the National American Miss pageant system. She earned 1st Runner-Up at the National American Miss national competition in November 2024 in Orlando, Florida. Shelby also proudly represented her state as Miss Wisconsin Teen USA 2024, using her platform to amplify the message of acceptance, kindness, and inclusion. Shelby believes that creating a more inclusive world is a responsibility we all share and continues to inspire others to be the change that opens doors for every individual to belong.

Shelby is joined by her Mission Partner, Mikayla Holmgren.

Thank You Thank You Thank You

TO OUR CHAMPIONS