Iowa Chef & Champion Challenge

Unites and recognizes the community’s most active leaders in the name of inclusion.

Fall 2024

5:30 PM | Des Monies, IA

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Thank You!

Thank you for participating in this year’s Champion of the Year event! Because of you, we were able to raise funds to sustain and help expand our Best Buddies programs in the area. We look forward to having you at next year’s event. With your help and support, our mission of inclusion lives on!

Best Buddies Champion of the Year is a competitive fundraising campaign that unites and recognizes leaders of inclusion in local communities nationwide.

Champion Candidates commit to raising funds and awareness for Best Buddies throughout their campaign. Our Champions advocate for the Best Buddies mission and will generate countless opportunities for friendships, jobs, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support. At the Best Buddies Champion of the Year celebration, we honor the Champions’ collective impact and name the ultimate Champion of the Year!

Join us for an evening of food and friendship at the Knapp Center in Des Moines for hearty appetizers and desserts prepared by chefs from fifteen area restaurants and Best Buddies Iowa buddy pairs. The evening will include drinks, silent and live auctions, feature remarks from key Best Buddies Iowa Ambassadors and volunteer leaders and will feature a program lead by Steve Berry and Linsey Birusingh with special guests Tyler Steinke and Lauren Kaduce.

Schedule

Date TBD
Doors Open:  5:30 PM
Dinner & Program: 7:00 PM
Event Ends: 9:00 PM

Location

Knapp Center
2525 Forest Ave.
Des Moines, IA

Event Contact

CarrieMueller@bestbuddies.org
TedRives@bestbuddies.org

Meet our Champion Candidates

Congrats to our 2023 Iowa Champion of the Year

Jennifer Taylor
Raised $31,000.00 for Best Buddies in Iowa
2023

Iowa

Jennifer Taylor
$31,000.00

A Glimpse of the Party...

Best Buddies Logo

Why Participate...

All funds raised benefit Best Buddies – the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families.

The IDD community that Best Buddies serves individuals with IDD and their families. The IDD community includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities.

We Love our Sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor

Signature Sponsor

Additional Sponsors

For sponsorship opportunities and other event inquiries, please contact:

CarrieMueller@bestbuddies.org
TedRives@bestbuddies.org