the Sponsorship Deck for more information

Best Buddies, founded in 1989, provides opportunities for one-to-one friendship, leadership
development and integrated employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is
a global volunteer movement that embraces difference and changes lives.
Early in 2014, a group of friends, family members and professionals established the Ohio Expansion
Board, with the sole purpose establishing an office for Best Buddies International in Ohio. Through their
dedication, Best Buddies Ohio was opened in January, 2016, and is on track to open the 2016-2017
school year with 18 school-based chapters throughout the State that will provide opportunities for
meaningful, life-changing friendships for students with IDD, including my own son, Silas.
In a unique and exciting introduction to Northeast Ohio, Best Buddies Ohio is thrilled to announce that
we are hosting an event with Cleveland Cavalier’s superstar Kyrie Irving! Kyrie has been a global
Ambassador for Best Buddies International since he was a student at Duke University in 2010-2011.
Since that time, Kyrie has not only become a champion on the court, he has championed the friendship,
leadership and employment programs of Best Buddies at events around the country.
On September 24, 2016, in Gateway Plaza in downtown Cleveland, Kyrie will participate in the Best
Buddies Ohio Friendship Walk and Kyrie Irving Basketball Challenge. The one-mile, family friendly walk
will kick off at 9 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., two teams made up of event sponsors and Best Buddies schoolbased chapter participants, will have the opportunity to play in a basketball game coached by Kyrie
Irving and another NBA player, and refereed by Best Buddies International Founder and CEO Anthony
Kennedy Shriver.
We welcome you to take a moment to learn more about the mission and programs of Best Buddies, this
unique event, and the opportunity for your business to “share center court” with Kyrie Irving while
showing your community that your business embraces the inclusion of all individuals.
Proceeds from this event will support the expansion of Best Buddies High School and College friendship
programs, as well as our leadership development programs, in the Greater Cleveland area. We are
thrilled by the opportunity to partner with Kyrie Irving to impact the lives of people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities in and around Cleveland!
Sincerely,
Janet Callison
State Director, Best Buddies Ohio
janetcallison@bestbuddies.org | 614-638-3990
Best Buddies Ohio Friendship Walk and Kyrie Irving Basketball Challenge
Beginning in 2014, and with the support of Best Buddies International, a dedicated group of parents,
professionals and friends successfully raised the funds needed to open a state office for Best Buddies in Ohio.
Opened in early 2016, the office now supports school-based friendship chapters throughout Ohio* and facilitates
expansion into additional schools and communities throughout the state. Leadership development programming
will begin in late summer 2016.
For more than a half century, the Kennedy family has been at the forefront of global efforts to support people with
intellectual and developmental disabilities. For years, those with IDD were shut away, powerless to change
society’s negative perception of them. The legacy of family matriarch Rose Kennedy, her son, President John F.
Kennedy, and her daughter Eunice Kennedy Shriver include the President’s Committee for People with
Intellectual Disabilities and Special Olympics. Influenced by his family’s commitment to the issues of IDD,
Anthony Kennedy Shriver founded Best Buddies International in 1989 at Georgetown University. Today, Best
Buddies impacts almost a million people in 1,900 middle school, high school and college chapters in 54 countries
around the world.
In Ohio, we will open the 2016-2017 school year with thirteen new school-based chapters, bringing our statewide total to 18. In 2020, we plan to have programming in every region of Ohio: in the fall of 2016 we will have
programs opening at:

Case Western Reserve University

Ohio State University

Miami University

University of Dayton

Ohio State University – Mansfield Campus

Kent State University

Ohio University – Chillicothe Campus

Grandview Heights High School

Pickerington North High School

Dover High School

Talawanda High School

Chillicothe High School

London High School

Liberty Union High School

Kings Jr. High School

Loveland Middle School

London Middle School
Best Buddies Ohio Friendship Walk and Kyrie Irving Basketball Challenge

By leveraging the existing relationship between Best Buddies International (BBI) and Kyrie Irving,
this event will:
- build the BBI/Best Buddies Ohio (BBOH) brand in the Cleveland market, and
- raise funds to establish additional Best Buddies programming in Cleveland and throughout Ohio.

By combining the BBI Friendship Walk model with a basketball themed post-walk festival, the event
will draw from multiple interest groups and populations.

By allowing high level sponsors the opportunity to play basketball with Kyrie Irving, the event will:
- foster and solidify goodwill and support between BBOH and the Cleveland corporate community,
- and lead to strong, long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships
Where: Gateway Plaza, Cleveland, Ohio
When: 9/24/16 from 8am to 1pm
Event Goals:

Raise $270,000 to launch programming in Cleveland

Build brand recognition in and around Cleveland

Establish relationships with corporations, foundations and individuals in
and around Cleveland
EVENT DAY SCHEDULE
8:00 a.m.
Registration Opens
9:00 a.m. Kickoff:
Honorary Walk Chair Kyrie Irving, Buddy Pair from top
fundraising school, top sponsor, Anthony Kennedy Shriver all
share stage for Opening remarks.
National Anthem – Marlena VanHoose, rising phenom and
BBI Ambassador
9:15 a.m. Start
Mile Walk around the historic Gateway District
Finish line in Gateway Plaza: water, fruit, etc.
DJ, Cheerleaders, activities until start of game
10:30 a.m. Celebrity Game:
Kyrie and another NBA player will coach two teams:
$50,000 donors—3 players for 1 quarter
$25,000 donors—2 players for 1 quarter
$10,000 donors—1 player for 1 quarter.
Ohio school-based Best Buddies Friendship Chapter Buddy
Pairs will round out the teams for each quarter
Best Buddies International founder and CEO Anthony
Kennedy Shriver will be the Celebrity Referee.
Party immediately following the game, with DJ, Games and
entertainment.
Janet Callison, State Director | Best Buddies Ohio
614.638.3990 | Janetcallison@bestbuddies.org
Bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/ohio
Gateway Plaza
Cleveland, Ohio
September 24, 2016
8:00 am—2:00 pm
Join Honorary Walk Chair Kyrie Irving as
we raise funds to spread the Best Buddies
mission of inclusion into the Greater
Cleveland area.
PRESENTING SPONSOR | $50,000
PRE EVENT
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Name/Logo on all Kyrie Irving Basketball Challenge team jerseys worn during Basketball Challenge, front of
Friendship Walk Collateral, including brochures, posters and flyers, on Best Buddies Ohio website, on front of
state newsletters and in e-newsletters, and inside all Team Captain Guides*
Recognized as Presenting Sponsor on all walk materials*
Recognition in media pieces, including press releases, PSA’s, advertisements, billboards and e-blasts
Opportunity to have company representative speak at Kickoff event
Private presentation of Best Buddies programs at sponsor office
EVENT DAY




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Sponsor logo prominently printed on participant T-shirts,* podium recognition as Presenting Sponsor, booth and
display space to sample sponsor products
Five (5) branded banners, provided by sponsor, displayed throughout event, and seven (7) course signs with
sponsor name/logo placed along walk course
Opportunity to have a company executive speak during opening ceremonies, and complimentary company
group photograph
Three (3) players in Basketball Challenge play on team for one quarter coached by Kyrie and receive Team
Kyrie jersey, swag bag with Best Buddies gear and Friendship Walk Team Kyrie T-shirt, and team photo with
Kyrie and other Basketball Challenge players
Full VIP Access for 10 people
POST EVENT

Best Buddies Friendship Walk Sponsor plaque to display and listing in post-walk thank you collateral/events
*based on printing deadlines
PLATINUM SPONSOR | $25,000
PRE EVENT

Name/Logo included on all Kyrie Irving Basketball Challenge team jerseys worn during Basketball Challenge,
Friendship Walk Collateral, including brochures, posters and flyers, on Best Buddies Ohio website, in state newsletters and in e-newsletters, and inside all Team Captain Guides*

Recognition in e-blasts

Private presentation of Best Buddies programs at sponsor office
EVENT DAY

Sponsor logo printed on participant T-shirts,* podium recognition, booth and display space at event to sample
sponsor products

Three (3) branded banners, provided by sponsor, displayed throughout event and five (5) course signs with sponsor
name/logo placed along walk course

Complimentary company group photograph

Two (2) players in Basketball Challenge play on team for one quarter coached by Kyrie and receive Team Kyrie
jersey, swag bag with Best Buddies gear and Friendship Walk Team Kyrie T-shirt, and team photo with Kyrie and
other Basketball Challenge players
Full VIP Access for 6 people

POST EVENT

Best Buddies Friendship Walk Sponsor plaque to display and listing in post-walk thank you collateral/events

Complimentary company group photograph
*based on printing deadlines
GOLD SPONSOR | $10,000
PRE EVENT:

Name/Logo included on Friendship Walk Collateral, including brochures, posters and flyers, recognition on Best Buddies Ohio website, in state newsletters and in e-newsletters,
and inside all Team Captain Guides*
EVENT DAY:

Sponsor logo printed on participant T-shirts,* podium
recognition as Friendship Walk Sponsor , booth and display
space at event to sample sponsor products

Two (2) branded banners, provided by sponsor, displayed
throughout event and four (4) course signs with sponsor
name/logo placed along walk course

Complimentary company group photograph

One (1) player in Basketball Challenge play on team for one
quarter and receive team jersey, swag bag with Best Buddies gear and Friendship Walk Team Kyrie T-shirt, and team
photo with Kyrie and other Basketball Challenge players
Full VIP Access for 4 people

POST EVENT:

Best Buddies Friendship Walk Sponsor certificate to display

Listing in post-walk thank you collateral/events
*based on printing deadlines
SILVER SPONSOR | $5,000
PRE EVENT:

Name/Logo recognition on Best Buddies Ohio website, included in state newsletters and in e-newsletters, and inside
all Team Captain Guides*
EVENT DAY:

Sponsor logo printed on participant T-shirts*

One (1) branded banner, provided by sponsor, displayed
throughout event and three (3) course signs with sponsor
name/logo placed along walk course

Complimentary company group photograph

Photo op with Kyrie, and Kyrie shoots a free throw with a
signed ball and passes it to you to keep

Full VIP Access for 2 people
POST EVENT:

Best Buddies Friendship Walk Sponsor certificate to display

Listing in post-walk thank you collateral/events
*based on printing deadlines
BRONZE SPONSOR | $2,500
PRE EVENT:

Name/Logo recognition on local Best Buddies website
EVENT DAY:

Two (2) course signs with sponsor name/logo placed along
walk course

Complimentary company group photograph

Photo op with Kyrie and Kyrie shoots a free throw with a signed
ball and passes it to you to keep
POST EVENT:

Best Buddies Friendship Walk Sponsor certificate to display

Listing in post-walk thank you collateral/events
COMMUNITY SPONSOR | $1,000
PRE EVENT:

Name/Logo recognition on local Best Buddies website
EVENT DAY:

One (1) course sign with sponsor name/logo placed along walk
course

Complimentary company group photograph

Photo op with Kyrie
POST EVENT:

Best Buddies Friendship Walk Sponsor certificate to display

Listing in post-walk thank you collateral/events
*based on printing deadlines
Janet Callison, State Director | Best Buddies Ohio
614.638.3990 | Janetcallison@bestbuddies.org
Bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/ohio