The 7th annual Best Buddies Minnesota Champion of the Year gala was an incredible success, and we are proud to announce Maureen Cahill as our 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 Minnesota for the last three years serving on the Advisory Board, participating in the Twin Cities Citizens program, and most recently accepting her nomination to be a Champion candidate.

“The work that Best Buddies in Minnesota is doing is so important and I am honored to be a part of this amazing organization as a Champion of inclusion to raise both awareness and funds. I am grateful for the wonderful support and partnership of my mission partner, Amelie Wall, and look forward to a long friendship with her as we continue to work together for inclusion.  I am so grateful and overwhelmed by the generosity of all of you who supported Best Buddies and our Champion campaign. 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

Best Buddies Minnesota is incredibly grateful to all the 2024 Champions and Mission Partners for their incredible efforts to raise funds and awareness for the Best Buddies mission of inclusion. The 2024 Champion of the Year gala raised more than $350,000 in essential funds to continue growing Best Buddies’ one-to-one friendship and leadership development programs in Minnesota.

View event photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBS9JS

About 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). At the campaign’s conclusion, we will celebrate at the Best Buddies Champion of the Year Gala to honor the Champions’ collective impact and name the ultimate Champion of the Year!