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Boston, May 25, 2018<\/strong> \u2013 <\/strong>Best Buddies International<\/strong><\/a>, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD),\u00a0<\/em>is pleased to announce that the 19^{TH<\/sup> Annual Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port<\/em> <\/a>, presented by Pepsi-Cola and Shaw\u2019s and Star Market Foundation<\/em><\/strong>, will take place June 1-2<\/strong>.\u00a0More than 2,500 people are expected to participate in the Challenge<\/em> \u2013<\/em> a charity ride, run, and walk to benefit Best Buddies International.<\/p>\n}

Tom Brady<\/strong>, New England Patriots Quarterback and Best Buddies Global Ambassador, will serve as Honorary Co-Chair, along with Celebrity Chef Guy Fieri <\/strong>and Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy, III.<\/strong> During the Challenge<\/em>, Event Chair Ted English<\/strong>, Executive Chairman of Bob\u2019s Discount Furniture, will help honor Eaton Vance Management<\/strong> with the 2018 Spirit of Leadership <\/em>award.<\/p>\n

\u201cBest Buddies is a fantastic organization with a great message to spread, and I am so proud to support their work,\u201d said Best Buddies Global Ambassador Tom Brady<\/strong>. \u201cI hope my role as Honorary Co-Chair will continue to bring attention to the organization\u2019s mission of friendship and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are excited to be returning to Massachusetts for our 19^{th <\/sup>Annual Best Buddies Challenge:<\/em> Hyannis Port \u00a0<\/em>and we are thrilled that Tom Brady, Guy Fieri and Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy, III will join us as Honorary Chairmen of this event,\u201d said Anthony Kennedy Shriver<\/strong>, Founder and Chairman of Best Buddies International. \u201cWe are also honored to have Pepsi-Cola and Shaw\u2019s and Star Market Foundation as this year\u2019s Presenting Sponsors. Their dedication to the Best Buddies mission of inclusion \u2013<\/em> along with that of all Challenge<\/em> participants \u2013 <\/em>continues to create an even greater awareness to the special abilities people with intellectual and developmental disabilities possess.\u201d<\/p>\n}

Several New England Patriots players, past and present including Tedy Bruschi,<\/strong> Julian Edelman<\/strong>, James White<\/strong>, Chris Hogan<\/strong>, Christian Fauria<\/strong>, Dan Koppen, Jason McCourty, Devin McCourty<\/strong> and Scott Zolak<\/strong> are expected to attend the Best Buddies<\/em> Tom Brady Football Challenge<\/em> at Harvard Stadium.<\/p>\n

Other celebrities, professional athletes and special guests expected to participate in the Challenge <\/em>weekend, include Actor Greg Germann; <\/strong>Model and Influencer Victoria Brito; <\/strong>ESPN NFL analyst Adam Schefter; <\/strong>Miss USA 2018 Sarah Summers <\/strong>and Miss Teen USA 2018 Hailey Colborn; <\/strong>and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker<\/strong>. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Also returning this year is the Guy Cooking With Best Buddies Celebrity Chef Food and Wine Festival,<\/strong> <\/em>presented by Pepsi-Cola and Shaw\u2019s and Star Market Foundation<\/em><\/strong>. This culinary festival will feature over 30 chefs from top local restaurants providing delectable food tastings and a variety of complimentary wine and beer options, all for a great cause. Steve DiFillippo,<\/strong> founder of the renowned Davio\u2019s Restaurant Group, Randy Greenstein, <\/strong>principle owner of Big Night Entertainment Group, <\/strong>and Michael Schlow <\/strong>of Tico Boston will serve as the special Chef Vice-Chairs of the event.<\/p>\n

During the Food and Wine Festival,<\/em> Best Buddies and Foxwoods Resort Casino will introduce the first-ever Food Festival Awards presentation to honor the most notable restaurants and chefs at this popular event. At the end of the evening, Felix Rappaport, President & CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino, will join Anthony Kennedy Shriver on stage to present the People\u2019s Choice Awards<\/em> to the top three stations that served the best dishes of the evening, as voted by guests.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, June 2<\/strong>, hundreds of cyclists, including professional cyclists George Hincapie <\/strong>and Christian Vande Velde<\/strong> will take the starting line at Santander Bank for the picturesque 100-mile ride portion of the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port<\/em>, from Boston to Hyannis Port. The Challenge<\/em> is open to participants of all ages and abilities and is designed to showcase the Best Buddies mission in action.\u00a0It also features alternative 50 and 20-mile cycling routes, as well as the Carl Lewis Challenge<\/em><\/strong>, a 5K run or walk.<\/p>\n

The Challenge<\/em> will be capped off by a New England-style clambake and private concert by the legendary<\/p>\n

Rick Springfield,<\/strong> which all participants and special guests are invited to attend.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Challenge<\/em> sponsors include: Presenting Sponsors Pepsi-Cola, <\/strong>The Official Beverage of the Best Buddies Challenges<\/em>, and Shaw\u2019s<\/strong> and Star Market Foundation; <\/strong>Hyannis Port Club Sponsors Bob\u2019s Discount Furniture, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Greenberg Traurig, Hublot,<\/strong> Don McCree,<\/strong> Seyfarth Shaw, Santander Bank, The TJX Companies, Inc<\/strong>; Cape Club Sponsors Abaco Wines,<\/strong> Chobani,<\/strong> Eze Castle Integration,<\/strong> The GEO Group Foundation, John Hancock, WHDH\/Channel 7<\/strong>; Craigville Beach Club Sponsors Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts<\/strong>, BNY Mellon, Celebrity<\/strong> Cruises, Cold Stone Creamery,<\/strong> Cooking with Kids Foundation,<\/strong> Crescent Capital Group,<\/strong> CVS Health, Dunkin\u2019 Donuts,<\/strong> Eaton Vance Management, Mark Edward Partners<\/strong>, RAI Services Company<\/strong>, Joe Shay, Jr., Teddie Peanut Butter, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Volvo, BMC,<\/strong> and Media Sponsor Boston Business Journal. <\/strong><\/p>\n

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ABOUT BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Best Buddies\u00ae is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities<\/em>. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 2,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies\u2019 eight formal programs \u2014 Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies\u00ae , Jobs, Ambassadors, <\/em>and Promoters<\/em> \u2014 engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 50 countries, positively impacting the lives of more than 1.2 million people with and without disabilities around the world. In many cases, as a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships. For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org, facebook.com\/bestbuddies or twitter.com\/bestbuddies.<\/p>\n

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Contact Information:
\n<\/u><\/strong>For media inquiries (including requests for credentials):<\/p>\n

Nicole Maddox<\/p>\n

305-374-2233 ext. 343
\nNicoleMaddox@bestbuddies.org<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Amaury Sablon<\/p>\n

305-374-2233 ext. 362
\nAmaurySablon@bestbuddies.org<\/a><\/p>\n

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