Dear Friends, Welcome, and thank you for being here! Tonight, we celebrate the power of inclusion, friendship, and a community that believes everyone deserves to belong. To our sponsors, donors, volunteers, committee members, and supporters, thank you for your generosity, your time, and your belief in the Best Buddies mission. Your support helps create meaningful friendships, inclusive opportunities, and a world where individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are valued, included, and celebrated. To our incredible Champions of the Year, thank you for the heart, dedication, and passion you have poured into this campaign over the past ten weeks. You have opened doors, shared your stories, rallied your communities, and tirelessly spread awareness for a mission that matters. Your impact goes far beyond the dollars raised; you have inspired others to be part of something bigger than themselves. I hope you take a moment tonight to feel proud of everything you have accomplished. You are champions in every sense of the word! It is a privilege to serve this community, and I am so grateful to share this evening with all of you. The generosity and passion in this room remind me why this work matters and how much we can accomplish when we come together. Thank you for believing in Best Buddies and helping us build a more inclusive future. Enjoy the celebration, cheer loudly for our Champions, and remember: inclusion isn't just something we believe in; it's something we build together. In Friendship,
Kaylyn Nimocks Area Director
Thank You To Our Sponsors!
Event Planning Committee Chair: Olivia Brown Rob Concelman Rebecca DeOrio Karen Flis John Nelson Marissa Nelson Alia Rea Mary Sullivan
2025 Champion of the Year
Team Leesa’s Warriors! Last year, Leesa’s Warriors made an incredible impact as our Best Buddies Central Florida Champions of the Year! Led by Marissa and John Nelson, Rob Concelman, and Leesa Stone, this amazing team brought their passion for inclusion to life, rallying their community around a mission that changes lives. Through their dedication, generosity, and tireless fundraising efforts, they raised an incredible $27,684 to support Best Buddies and create more opportunities for friendship, inclusion, and belonging for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their achievement is a powerful reminder of what can happen when passionate people come together for a cause they believe in. We are so grateful to Marissa, John, Rob, and Leesa for the heart they poured into this campaign and for the lasting impact they have made on our Best Buddies community. Thank you, Leesa’s Warriors, for championing inclusion and inspiring others to be part of something bigger!
2026 Candidates
Alex & Andrew
Hallie & Matt
Tricia & Mariana
Rob & Greg
Brittany & Harold
Lindsey & Ebony
This Year's Entertainment Get ready to keep the energy high with John Nelson, better known as Mr. DJ Steal! Bringing the perfect soundtrack to our Champion of the Year Gala, he’ll keep the celebration going with great music and an atmosphere that gets everyone in the spirit. Get ready to celebrate, connect, and hit the dance floor!
How to Bid Register: Text OrlandoCOY26 to (76278) Donate: Text the word GIVE and amount (dollar sign not required) to (76278) *You can also bid in the silent auction once you’ve registered
Bid From the Heart The Value of Your Donation Supports Best Buddies helps form meaningful friendships, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communications skills, all while feeling valued by society. $5,000 • Job placement and a year of support for a Buddy with IDD. • The cost of the room and food to host 250+ Best Buddies members to the statewide Friendship Ball $2,500 • A middle school, high school, or college Chapter for a year $1,000 • The cost to send a Buddy to the Leadership Conference (Registration and Air) • A tent at the walk • DJ or photo booth for a statewide Best Buddies event $500 • Bus to transport a school chapter to the Friendship Walk or Friendship Ball • Registration for a buddy to attend the Leadership Conference • The cost of a flight to send a student leader to the Leadership Conference in Indiana $350 • Citizens/Ambassador bowling party • 1 buddy runner to participate in the ION Bank Cheshire Half Marathon • The cost of buying t-shirts for a school chapter $250 • The cost to send 4 buddies to the Friendship Ball • The cost to send a buddy to the Champion of the Year Gala • Transportation for 2 ambassadors to give public speeches • The cost of a pizza party for a school chapter
Walk. Celebrate. Support.
04.17.27 8:00AM | Lake Eola Park The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading walk in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (also known as IDD). BESTBUDDIESFRIENDSHIPWALK.ORG/ORLANDO
Kaylyn Nimocks 321-458-4576 KaylynNimocks@bestbuddies.org
MAKE A FRIEND | DONATE | VOLUNTEER To find your local Best Buddies office, visit: BESTBUDDIES.ORG/FLORIDA