Miami, October 20,  2009 – Best Buddies International, a groundbreaking nonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is pleased to announce that the Thirteenth Annual Best Buddies Miami Gala: Celebrating the United States of America, will take place on Watson Island on Friday, November 20.

This year’s Gala will celebrate Best Buddies International’s twentieth anniversary with a spectacular American-themed evening featuring a fabulous cocktail hour, a gourmet dinner, unique live and silent auctions, and a live performance by special musical guest Chris Brown.

“The Miami Gala has become a tradition that brings together the community’s most enthusiastic and generous individuals in support of friendships, jobs and leadership opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” says Anthony K. Shriver, founder and chairman of Best Buddies International. “We are thrilled to be celebrating twenty years of friendships and jobs at this amazing event in the city that has been home to our international headquarters for almost as long, and look forward to celebrating twenty more.”

The Gala never fails to bring together Miami’s most notable residents and celebrities from around the globe; actor Verne Troyer, actresses Maureen McCormick and Lisa Rinna, Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen, Miss Teen USA Stormi Bree Henley, Olympic Gold Medalist Carl Lewis and Telemundo’s “Acceso Total” Host Mariana Rodriguez are among those expected this year.  Additionally, Adrienne Arsht, Richard Booth, Romero Britto, Gayle Hawkins, May Liang & James Lintott, Jeannie Means, Johan De Nysschen, Alain Perez, Randy & Saily Perkins, Anthony K. Shriver and George Zoley have graciously agreed to serve as Co-Chairs of the Gala, which is being sponsored by Title Sponsors May Liang & James Lintott and Presenting Sponsors Adrienne Arsht, AshBritt Environmental, Audi, Benihana, Eventstar, the GEO Group, Inc., Southern Wines and Spirits and UBS.  This year’s event will feature several new components, including a Celebrity/Sous Chef Challenge, during which top area chefs, including Tim Andriola, Michelle Bernstein, Sean Brasel, Ron Duprat, Jonathan Eismann, Howie Kleinman and Mark Militello, will team up with Best Buddies participants to compete for the titles of “Judges’ Choice,” as decided by a panel of celebrity judges and “Peoples’ Choice,” as decided by guests, via text message.

And, for the first time, 200 Best Buddies Miami participants who have pledged their support for the “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign will be invited to attend the Gala’s live musical performance.  The campaign, created by youth, is an effort to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)” and encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word.  It is intended to engage schools, organizations and communities to rally and pledge their support at www.r-word.org.  In March, 2010, Best Buddies International will partner with Special Olympics International in a second annual day of awareness to support the “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign.

As always, there will also be a number of spectacular items up for auction, including ten hours on a Citation Jet, a round of Golf with NBA legend Alonzo Mourning, an activity-filled week in a fully-staffed mansion in the Bahamas for ten, and exclusive artwork signed by Romero Britto and Michael Jackson. The auction is one of the highest grossing in the country and is co-chaired by Alina Shriver and Stephanie Gold.  In anticipation of Art Basel, select works from the Best Buddies Fine Art Collection, including pieces by Roy Lichtenstein, Jim Dine, Robert Rauschenberg, William Wegman, and Hunt Slonem, will be on display at the Gala, as well.  Guests will be able to purchase these magnificent works of art, with proceeds to benefit Best Buddies.

Space is limited – If you would like to send someone to cover this event, please contact

Heather Schatz at (305) 374-2233, ext. 207// This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Jennifer Grau at (305) 374.2233, ext. 245// This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .