Tom Brady Kicks Off 18th Annual Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port with Team Tom Brady on September 27th

BOSTON, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, September 27^th, New England Patriots Quarterback and Best Buddies Global Ambassador Tom Brady will kick-off the 18^th Annual Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port Presented by Pepsi-Cola with a private reception for Team Tom Brady members. Shaw's President, Paul D. Gossett, Tom Brady and the Best Buddies Team will make an announcement at the start of the reception regarding an exciting new partnership between Shaw's, Star Market and Best Buddies. 

"Best Buddies is a fantastic organization with a great message to spread, and I am so proud to support their work," said Tom Brady. "I hope my role as Honorary Co-Chair will continue to bring attention to the organization's mission of friendship and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the world."

The actual 18^th Annual Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port Presented by Pepsi-Cola, will take place on June 2 – 3, 2017 benefitting Best Buddies International, a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment and leadership training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). More than 2,500 people are expected to participate in the Challenge – a charity football game, walk, run and ride to benefit the organization.

"We are delighted to be returning to Massachusetts for our 18^th annual Challenge and we are thrilled that Ted English, CEO of Bob's Discount Furniture, will join us as our Event Chair along with honorary Event Chairs Tom Brady, Guy Fieri and Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy, III," said Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Founder and Chairman of Best Buddies International. "Their dedication to the Best Buddies mission of inclusion - along with that of all Challenge participants – will help bring an even greater awareness to the infinite abilities people with intellectual and developmental disabilities possess." 

"I am honored to support the great work of Best Buddies, by serving as the Chair of the 2017 Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port. It also brings me great joy to honor my good friend, John Hailer and Natixis Global Asset Management at this event in recognition of his continued support of Best Buddies and their mission of inclusion," said Ted English, CEO, Bob's Discount Furniture.

Hyannis Port Challenge supporters include Presenting Sponsor Pepsi-Cola; Hublot, Shaw's, Star Market, Bob's Discount Furniture, Santander Bank, Natixis Global Asset Management, BNY Mellon, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Pioneer Investments, Seyfarth Shaw Attorneys LLP, The TJX Companies Inc., Greenberg Traurig LLP, CVS Health, John Hancock, NBC/WHDH, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Cooking with Kids Foundation, Eaton Vance Investment Management, The GEO Group Foundation Inc., Mark Edward Partners, Pilot Freight Services, and CBS Radio/98.5 The Sports Hub.

BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL:
Best Buddies® 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. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,900 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies' eight formal programs — Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies® , Jobs, Ambassadors, and Promoters — engage participants in each of the 50 states and in over 50 countries, positively impacting the lives of more than 900,000 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. 

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SOURCE Best Buddies International