Game Night with Sal Frelick, held on Thursday, July 23rd at The New Fashioned in Milwaukee, was a tremendous celebration of community, inclusion, and hometown pride in support of Best Buddies Wisconsin. Hosted by Sal Frelick, the Milwaukee Brewers Gold Glove outfielder, the event drew more than 325 attendees to its inaugural year, demonstrating how deeply the Milwaukee community believes in creating opportunities for friendship, leadership development, and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The evening brought together baseball fans, baseball players, Best Buddies supporters, and local partners for a fun, high-energy night that will have a lasting impact across Wisconsin.

On their day off, Sal and 24 of his teammates along with their families (and one dog, Winston) from the hottest team in baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers, came out to support both Sal and Best Buddies. Their presence turned an already exciting game night into a truly memorable experience for attendees. The players spent time meeting guests, bowling, playing mini golf, taking photos, and showing their commitment to ensuring that people with IDD are welcomed and valued as friends, colleagues, and teammates in their communities. Their participation highlighted the power of athletes using their platform to champion inclusion and help end the social, physical, and economic isolation that people with IDD too often experience.

The reach of Game Night with Sal Frelick extended well beyond the walls of The New Fashioned. The event was covered by more than 10 media outlets, including live coverage by two local television stations and MLB Network. In the months leading up to the event, it was promoted at each Milwaukee Brewers home game with a special video filmed at the Best Buddies Wisconsin tailgate in April. This visibility helped introduce thousands of fans to the mission of Best Buddies and invited the broader community to stand behind inclusion for people with IDD.

The event was presented by Community Care and Calderone Club, whose generosity and leadership helped make this first-ever Game Night with Sal Frelick a reality. In addition to these presenting partners, there was a wide network of sponsors who stepped up to support the cause. A huge shout-out is owed to all of the sponsors who contributed time, resources, and funding to bring Sal’s vision to life. Their commitment demonstrates how local businesses and organizations can work together to create more inclusive communities and expand opportunities for people with IDD across Wisconsin.

Behind the scenes, the event was expertly produced by Swidinski Management Group and Athlete’s Impact Group, ensuring that every detail from the atmosphere at The New Fashioned to the flow of the evening, supported a welcoming, fun, and mission-driven experience for all. Thanks to the hard work of the event team, volunteers, and Best Buddies staff, Game Night with Sal Frelick was not only enjoyable but also deeply meaningful.

Most importantly, the night raised over $50,000 for Best Buddies Wisconsin. These funds will directly support inclusive programming that empowers people with IDD to form authentic friendships, develop leadership skills, and gain meaningful employment in their communities. To celebrate this success, the Wisconsin team: Caroline Tyson, Laura Brackett, Jaimee Hrabik and Megan Messmer have been invited to a special check presentation at a Milwaukee Brewers game sometime in September, further highlighting the partnership between Sal, his teammates, the Milwaukee Brewers and Best Buddies in Wisconsin.

Reflecting on the evening, Best Buddies participant Matt Purfuerst summed it up simply and powerfully:

“Game Night knocked it out of the park. My favorite part of the night was meeting Sal and having a conversation with him. He is such a nice and caring person.”

Game Night with Sal Frelick was more than a fundraiser, it was a statement about what is possible when athletes, businesses, community leaders, and fans come together to champion inclusion.