Champion of the Year: Ellie Clifford Makes Inclusion Her Mission

Written by Amy Paradysz

Champion of the Year Ellie Clifford with Rachel Williams, Annabelle Williams, and Jim Clifford, all of Cumberland. Photos by Amy Paradysz.

Fourteen-year-old Ellie Clifford of Cumberland wanted her friends at North Yarmouth Academy to be more comfortable socializing with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, like her 20-year-old sister Caitlin Williams, who is a member of Best Buddies.

With that goal in mind, Clifford started a Best Buddies chapter at NYA this fall, raised funds for 10 weeks, and was named Champion of the Year at Best Buddies Maine’s annual gala on Oct. 25 at Thompson’s Point.

“I want people with [intellectual and developmental disabilities] to be more involved with the things we get to do that they might otherwise not,” Clifford said.

About 620 people attended the evening of dinner, bidding, and dancing. Eleven community supporters and their mission partners competed to rack up the highest fundraising total through supporters’ auction bids and donation commitments. Clifford and Williams brought in an impressive $64,000 of the total $300,000 raised to support the nonprofit in fostering friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities.

Best Buddies Expanding Across Maine

From Biddeford to Bangor, Best Buddies Maine has 45 school chapters – up from just four chapters six years ago – and four Citizens chapters for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“We go bowling and go see new movie releases, especially Disney ones,” said Garrett Trufant of Portland, who is matched with Brandon Pierce, a Citizens member from Standish.

Dreams Come True at the Gala

For Best Buddies Bangor Area Citizens member Kristi Fournier, attending the gala was a dream come true, complete with a corsage and a tiara. Her mother, Stephanie Fournier, said, “It was so worth the money, the ride and the effort. We will go again next year, for sure. She happy-cried most of the night. She saw many friends and, as usual, made some new ones, including Miss Maine and Mrs. Maine, who invited her to volunteer with them.”

A highlight for the Fourniers was hearing Marlana VanHoose, a powerhouse vocalist and keyboard player who has been blind from birth, belt out inspirational hits such as “This Is Me,” “Don’t Stop Believing,” and “We Are the Champions.”

The Importance of Inclusion

“The importance of programs like this is inclusion, and tonight’s theme is Let Inclusion Grow. That’s what it’s all about,” said board member Jennifer Weber of Yarmouth. “My youngest daughter was born with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It has been important for me to join and support an organization that gave her opportunities to be among her peers and participate in programs that she may not otherwise be invited.”

Best Buddies Maine continues to create meaningful opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and events like the annual gala highlight the incredible impact of inclusion, friendship, and community support.