{"id":111989,"date":"2019-06-07T14:35:46","date_gmt":"2019-06-07T18:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/?p=111989"},"modified":"2021-04-15T17:08:18","modified_gmt":"2021-04-15T21:08:18","slug":"20th-annual-best-buddies-challenge-hyannis-port-presented-by-pepsi-cola-and-shaws-and-star-market-foundation-raises-6-6-million-for-people-with-intellectual-developmental-disabilities-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/20th-annual-best-buddies-challenge-hyannis-port-raises-6-6-million-for-people-with-intellectual-developmental-disabilities","title":{"rendered":"20th Annual Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port Presented By Pepsi-cola And Shaw’s And Star Market Foundation Raises $6.6 Million For People With Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"
Tom Brady<\/strong>, New England Patriots Quarterback and Best Buddies Global Ambassador, served as Honorary Co-Chair, along with Celebrity Chef Guy Fieri<\/strong> and Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy, III<\/strong>. During the Challenge, Event Chair Ted English<\/strong>, Executive Chairman of Bob\u2019s Discount Furniture, helped honor Steve DiFillippo<\/strong>, chef, restaurateur and owner of Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse in Boston, with the 2019 Spirit of Leadership award. This is Best Buddies\u2019 highest accolade presented to organizations who show great leadership, generosity and spirit in supporting the Best Buddies mission.<\/p>\n The weekend\u2019s festivities kicked off with the Best Buddies Tom Brady Football Challenge and the Guy Cooking with Best Buddies Celebrity Chef Food and Wine Festival on Friday, May 31. Fans enjoyed delicious treats by Chobani, MGM Springfield, Shaw\u2019s and Star Market, and Pepsi as they filled the stands at Harvard Stadium to watch Team Pepsi-Cola<\/strong> take on Team Shaw\u2019s and Star Market Foundation<\/strong>. It was a thrilling game but in the end, Team Pepsi came out with the win versus Team Shaw\u2019s and Star Market Foundation, with a final score of 80 to 72.<\/p>\n During the game, Brady played quarterback for Team Pepsi-Cola and Team Shaw\u2019s & Star Market Foundation alongside Best Buddies participants, supporters, and special guests, including his sons, Jack and Benny. Past and present New England Patriots joined in on the game, some of which included Julian Edelman, James White, Troy Brown, Ted Karras, Christian Furia<\/strong>, and Dan Koppen<\/strong>; who were also joined by Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker<\/strong>. Several other celebrities attended the weekend festivities, including actor Michael Chiklis<\/strong>; Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst<\/strong>; Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema<\/strong>, Governor of New Hampshire Chris Sununu<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Friday evening concluded with the Third Annual Guy Cooking with Best Buddies Celebrity Chef Food and Wine Festival<\/strong> presented by Pepsi-Cola, Shaw\u2019s and Star Market Foundation<\/strong>. More than 30 chefs from top local restaurants provided food tastings and complimentary wine and spirits options, and several Best Buddies sous chefs prepared delicious food for guests, 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, served as the special Chef Vice-Chairs of the event.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″ offset=”vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-md-4″] During the festivities, Anthony K. Shriver<\/strong> encouraged guests to \u201cSponsor a Buddy” (to attend the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference in July) through the Tom Brady Football Toss. Brady tossed signed footballs to guests who paid $2,000 for each one, giving Best Buddies participants the opportunity to attend the conference. In total, the football tosses and auctions raised $139,500 at both Friday\u2019s celebration and Saturday\u2019s clambake in Hyannis Port.<\/p>\n On Saturday, June 1, Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port participants turned out in droves for a 100, 50, or 20 mile bike ride and laced up their running shoes for a 5K run\/walk. Best Buddies Ambassador Franklin Nichols sang a powerful rendition of the \u201cNational Anthem,\u201d at the opening ceremonies for the 100-mile. Professional cyclists George Hincapie<\/strong> and Christian Vande Velde<\/strong>, who both rode on Team Hublot, were amongst the group of riders making their way down the picturesque New England streets.<\/p>\n The Challenge was capped off by a celebratory clambake that included a live cooking demonstration by Best Buddies Global Ambassador Guy Fieri, Julian Edelman and several buddy sous chefs, and a private concert by Flo Rida<\/strong>, who rocked the crowd with several of his hits. The hip-hop star put on quite the show and brought several Best Buddies participants on stage for the experience of a lifetime!<\/p>\n The event was another record-breaking success, and an excellent stride in making the world more inclusive for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Below are the top riders and top fundraising teams for the 20th Annual Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port.[\/vc_column_text]
\nBest 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, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 2,900 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies\u2019 nine formal programs \u2014 Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies\u00ae , Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters and Inclusive Living\u2014 engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 54 countries, positively impacting the lives of over 1.25 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, www.facebook.com\/bestbuddies or www.twitter.com\/bestbuddies.<\/p>\n