New York City, October 6, 2025 – Best Buddies International hosted its inaugural Best Buddies Challenge: New York, presented by Jersey Mike's Subs and Wells Fargo. on Saturday, October 4th. Cycling legend and Tour de France Stage Winner Mark Cavendish served as Honorary Chair of the Challenge – a charity ride, run, and walk benefiting Best Buddies International.

Nearly 2,000 student leaders, volunteers, and staff from Best Buddies International’s programs around the world, will participate in the event July 19-21 at Indiana University in Bloomington. The conference will prepare the organization’s students leaders to be strong, passionate forerunners as they promote the mission of Best Buddies in their local schools and communities and inspire the world one person at a time.

Over the 4th of July weekend, Best Buddies International hosted its Champion of the Year fundraiser at Hotel Jerome with the theme of a Gala en Blanc. Founded in 1987 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver when he was a student at Georgetown University, the organization has been dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) since the beginning.