Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TEAM MARIA CONTACT: Justin Knighten
916.492.2707 | justin@GoTeamMaria.com
BEST BUDDIES CONTACT: Heather Schatz
305-374-2233, ext. 207 | HeatherSchatz@bestbuddies.org
Team Maria Launches New Website to Raise Money and Awareness for Best Buddies International
‘Glee’ Star and Team Member Lauren Potter Featured on New Website
Sacramento, CA— Team Maria, formed in 2008 by former First Lady of California Maria Shriver to support Best Buddies International, announced today a new website, www.GoTeamMaria.com, to recruit new members, promote team events and training rides, and collect donations to raise money and awareness for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and prepare the team for the 2011 Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle.
In 2010, Team Maria recruited 97 riders and came in first place for fundraising with $306,000, which earned the team the Challenge’s highest honor – the Citizens Cup. With a more active online presence, the team hopes to surpass last year’s success.
Maria Shriver is the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle Honorary Chair, leader of Team Maria and longtime Best Buddies supporter. Best Buddies is a nonprofit that creates opportunities for friendship, employment and leadership development for people with IDD, all of which are issues important to her and her family.
The Team Maria website, developed by BKB Design, will help recruit new riders and keep current team members informed on events and provide tips on fundraising. For those that cannot participate in the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle, the website also has a page for individual donations and information on how groups and organizations can get involved with larger sponsorships.
Team Maria is also excited to announce Lauren Potter – playing Becky on the hit TV show Glee –has joined Team Maria and is featured on this month’s Member Spotlight. Lauren talks about the positive impact a Buddy made in her life and hopes her role on Glee will raise awareness and funding for Best Buddies to continue to help kids and young adults with IDD feel more included.
The Team has already secured major sponsorships from Safeway and The Women’s Conference. Team Maria has developed partnerships with Project 360, Lucas Public Affairs , Dewey Square Group, Lunia Blue, Spin Burger and BKB Design.
On Saturday, September 10, 2011, celebrities, athletes, and people with IDD, will take the Challenge, and come together on bike and on foot to make a difference and change lives. The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle is much more than a ride, a run, or a walk. With VIP treatment along the way, a private concert at the Hearst Ranch, and a gourmet BBQ and party at the finish line, the Audi Best Buddies Challenge is an experience of a lifetime.
About Team Maria
Team Maria is led by former First Lady of California, Maria Shriver, to raise support and awareness for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) by participating in the Best Buddies International event: Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle. Founded in 2008 by Maria Shriver, with the help of her friends Donna Lucas and Margaret Lyons, Team Maria has grown in team size and fundraising totals consecutively each year. In 2010, Team Maria recruited 97 riders and came in first place for fundraising with $306,000, which earned the team the Challenge’s highest honor – the Citizens Cup. In 2011, the team will walk, ride and support Best Buddies to honor the memory of Sargent and Eunice Shriver. Team Maria embodies the spirit of Best Buddies – empowerment, friendship and fun. Together WE Ride!
For more information, please visit www.GoTeamMaria.com.
About 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 almost 1,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies’ seven formal programs – Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies® , Jobs and Ambassadors – engage participants in each of the 50 states and in 50 countries, positively impacting the lives of nearly 700,000 people with and without disabilities around the world. 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 or www.bestbuddieschallenge.org.