Best Buddies Tastebuds Find New Flavors. Meet New Friends.

December 9, 2024

6:00 - 10:00 PM  |  Pittsburgh, PA

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TasteBuds Presented By:

Best Buddies in Pittsburgh is pleased to announce the return of TasteBuds!

TasteBuds is a unique tasting event that features talented chefs from around the Greater Pittsburgh area serving signature dishes and demonstrating the power of friendship. Chefs are paired with individuals with intellectual & developmental disabilities (IDD), who serve as sous-chefs for the evening. Guests will sample an array of culinary delights and enjoy drinks at the open bar.

We also are excited to once again bring back Champion of the Year as part of our TasteBuds event, a philanthropic competition uniting inclusion leaders in our community. We are thrilled to announce that 5 Champions will be selected for 2024. At the completion of this 10-week campaign, we will crown our Champion of the Year at TasteBuds.

The evening will also include live entertainment and opportunities to bid on fabulous auction items, all in support of our Friendship & Leadership Programs for individuals with IDD.

Find new flavors. Meet new friends!

Schedule

Monday, December 9, 2024
VIP Hour: 6:00 pm
General Admission: 7:00 pm.
Event ends: 10:00 pm.

Attire: Cocktail
There are no physical tickets this year. All guests will have their names listed at the door.

Location

The David L. Lawrence Convention Center
1000 Fort Duquesne Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Event Contact

SamanthaMildner@bestbuddies.org

Grand Champion Chelsea Beaufort
Chelsea Beaufort 2023 Champion

Congrats to our 2023 Pittsburgh Champion of the Year

CHELSEA BEAUFORT

Raised over $16,956.00 for Best Buddies in Pittsburgh

Meet our 2024 Champion Candidates:

Auctioneer
Matt Newsom

As a Hairy Cell Leukemia survivor, the first galas I supported benefited the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society who developed the treatment that put me into remission. My life experiences have brought me to benefit auctioneering. Being a benefit auctioneer allows me to put all three of these strengths to work for each of my non-profit partners. Doing what I’m good at plus doing what I enjoy plus helping so many worthy causes is the perfect combination for me!
Pittburgh Tastebuds Emcee Heather Abraham

Emcee
Heather Abraham

Heather Abraham co-hosts KDKA’s “Pittsburgh Today Live,” with David Highfield, every weekday morning at 9AM; and is the host of Talk Pittsburgh, every weekday afternoon at 3PM. Being an active part of the community is very important to Heather. She’s been involved with the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania, even taking part in their annual polar plunge fundraiser, as well as Hair Peace Charities, Animal Friends, and the KDKA-TV Turkey Fund. Her community involvement, though, includes being a good neighbor! She established an annual block party and helped to create a safe Light Up Night on her street during the 2020 COVID pandemic.

Restaurants

A Glimpse of the Party

About Best Buddies

All funds raised benefit Best Buddies – the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower the special abilities of people with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society.

The IDD community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to, people with Down Syndrome, Autism, Fragile X, Williams Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities.

We Love our Sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor

Qintel Sponsor Logo

Additional Sponsors

For event information and sponsorship opportunities, contact SamanthaMildner@bestbuddies.org.