Milwaukee, WI, Dec. 18, 2023 — It was a fun night of hoops for Best Buddies participants in Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee Bucks hosted a “Best Buddies Night” for members of Best Buddies in Wisconsin, the state’s branch of Best Buddies International, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), on Dec. 13.

“We could not have scripted a better night,” Caroline Tyson, the director of development for Best Buddies Wisconsin, said.

Just under 200 participants from local chapters came to watch the Bucks take on the Indiana Pacers. The attendees were decked out in Best Buddies gear and showed their support for their hometown team with Best Buddies-branded “rally towels,” with the energy brought by Best Buddies propelling the Bucks to a thrilling win.

The Best Buddies crew balanced their fun out with some work, tabling before the game to spread the word about the Best Buddies mission.

But they did have their fun.

Prior to the game, students from school-based chapters got to stand in the Bucks high-five line, offering their support as the players ran out of the tunnel during both the pregame warmups and at halftime. In doing so, they showed what the Best Buddies mission of inclusion is all about.

“In true Best Buddies spirit, the kids had their hands out for everyone that walked by,” Tyson said. “It wasn’t even just for the players – it was for the security guards, the trainers and the waterboys. They were having so much fun, and they realized they had a job to do: high-five and fist-bump everyone.”

The fist bumps must have worked, too. At halftime, the Bucks were up by seven points, but ended up winning by 14.

“The game was a blast,” Austin Michalski, a Best Buddies in Wisconsin participant, said.

The Bucks also donated five dollars for every ticket sold to Best Buddies in Wisconsin and gave them signed items to use at upcoming fundraising auctions. These funds will enable Best Buddies in Wisconsin to maintain and expand its programs across the state.