{"id":172889,"date":"2023-06-08T17:18:05","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T21:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/?p=172889"},"modified":"2023-07-19T16:33:32","modified_gmt":"2023-07-19T20:33:32","slug":"24th-annual-best-buddies-challenge-hyannis-port-presented-by-shaws-and-star-market-foundation-and-the-tjx-companies-inc-raises-nearly-4-million-for-people-with-intellectual-and-developmental-d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2023\/06\/08\/24th-annual-best-buddies-challenge-hyannis-port-presented-by-shaws-and-star-market-foundation-and-the-tjx-companies-inc-raises-nearly-4-million-for-people-with-intellectual-and-developmental-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"24th Annual Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port Presented By Shaw’s And Star Market Foundation And The Tjx Companies, Inc. Raises Nearly $4 Million For People With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"
The weekend\u2019s festivities commenced with an intimate cocktail reception at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum<\/strong> in Boston. The reception included a guided museum tour and performances by Best Buddies Ambassadors Christina Hundley and James Keith.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]On Saturday, June 3, hundreds of riders took to the 100-mile start line at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum<\/strong>, led by professional cyclist Cam Wurf, Current US Pro Women\u2019s Road Champion Emma Langley, and World Champion and Olympic medalist Mari Holden. During the opening ceremonies, Rob Backus, President of Shaw’s and Star Market, presented a $400,000 donation to Best Buddies as part of an in-store campaign across New England.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1687791626099-9c50e835-5907-4″ include=”172895,172910,172901″ el_class=”hpc”][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1687791626104-afbae732-f973-7″ include=”172910,172901″ el_class=”two” el_id=”hpc”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1686329283098{margin-top: -15px !important;}”]Many Best Buddies supporters and participants encouraged riders at the start lines, thanking them for their efforts towards making society more inclusive and wishing them a great ride, including Wells Fargo\u2019s Chief Operating Officer Scott Powell<\/strong> at the 100-mile, and nine-time Olympic Gold Medalist Carl Lewis<\/strong> at the 20-mile start line.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]The Challenge<\/em> was capped off by a celebratory clambake where Celebrity Chef Buddy Valastro<\/strong> presented Best Buddies with a gold medal cake to commemorate the achievements of participants who completed the weekend\u2019s bike ride. The event also included a special appearance by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Multi-Hyphenate Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1687791626106-23a7f3e2-e2c8-3″ include=”172904,172903,172905,172912,172906,172914″ el_class=”two”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1686334103489{margin-top: -15px !important;}”]NFL star and Best Buddies International Board Member Chris Lindstrom<\/strong> was among those who joined guests down at the Finish Line in Hyannis Port for the celebratory clambake. Later that evening, guests enjoyed a private reception at the Kennedy-Shriver family home.[\/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”3″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1687791626114-64958d66-2e04-1″ include=”172913,172911,172908,172907″ el_class=”two”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1686336745889{margin-top: -15px !important;}”]During the festivities, Best Buddies Founder Anthony K. Shriver<\/strong> auctioned off Pinarello’s<\/strong> new Dogma F Road Bike, a top-tier racing machine, for $16,000, and later encouraged guests to \u201cSponsor a Buddy” which gives Best Buddies participants the opportunity to attend Best Buddies International Leadership Conference in July. In total, \u201cSponsor a Buddy\u201d raised $13,000 at Saturday\u2019s clambake.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port<\/em> 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][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This year\u2019s Challenge sponsors included: PRESENTING SPONSORS Shaw\u2019s and Star Market Foundation<\/strong> and The TJX Companies, Inc.<\/strong>; HYANNIS PORT CLUB SPONSORS BODYARMOR<\/strong> – The Official Water & Sports Beverage Partner of the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port<\/em>, Greenberg Traurig, LLP<\/strong>, Impossible Foods<\/strong>, Seyfarth<\/strong>, Wells Fargo<\/strong>, WHDH\/Channel 7<\/strong>; CAPE CLUB SPONSORS Planned Lifetime Assistance Network (PLAN) of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Inc.<\/strong>, Volvo Car USA<\/strong>; CRAIGVILLE BEACH CLUB SPONSORS Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts<\/strong>, Crescent Capital Partners<\/strong>, Eaton Vance\/Morgan Stanley<\/strong>, Mark Edward Partners<\/strong>, ServiceNow<\/strong>, Teddie Peanut Butter<\/strong>, Vertex Pharmaceuticals<\/strong> , and Tito\u2019s Handmade Vodka<\/strong> – The Official Vodka Sponsor of the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port<\/em>; MEDIA SPONSOR WHDH\/Channel 7<\/strong> – The Official Media Sponsor of the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port<\/em>; OFFICIAL BIKE SPONSOR Pinarello<\/strong>; IN-KIND SPONSORS Gourmet Caterers<\/strong>, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum<\/strong>, and Night Shift Brewing<\/strong>, The Official Beer Sponsor of the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port<\/em>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\n ABOUT BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL:<\/strong><\/u> For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org,<\/a>\u00a0facebook.com\/bestbuddies<\/a>, or twitter.com\/bestbuddies<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nBest Buddies\u00ae<\/sup> 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<\/em>. Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to nearly 3,000 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<\/sup>, Jobs, Ambassadors, Promoters and Inclusive Living<\/em> \u2014 engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 47 countries, positively impacting the lives of nearly 1 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.<\/p>\n