Best Buddies Gala at the Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco - Lights, Camera, Inclusion

Bay Area Champion of the Year Gala 2024

For the last few years, we have had the true honor of working with the Best Buddies team for their Champion of the Year gala. Each year brings a new group of Champions, new stories, and new opportunities to celebrate the incredible mission of inclusion for the disability community. For the 2024 gala, we decided to add a little extra sparkle with a theme that brought the entire evening to life.

Lights, Camera, Inclusion

The Lights, Camera, Inclusion, brought together Best Buddies supporters with a little old Hollywood glamour. The goal was to transform the hotel ballroom into a space that felt exciting, celebratory, and worthy of putting the Champions in the spotlight.

Large marquee-style lights, which typically read “Champion,” were updated to say “Inclusion,” creating a statement piece that immediately set the tone for the evening.

Gold trumpet-shaped pieces alternated throughout the ballroom with gorgeous white, red, and magenta lilies and oversized white ostrich feathers.

Black tables, red fan-folded napkins, vintage-inspired napkin rings, gold details, and custom printed materials continued the Hollywood-inspired look. Champion photos and sponsor signage were incorporated throughout the room, while a Walk of Fame-inspired display celebrated each Champion and their Mission Partner.

Welcoming Guests in Style

Guests were greeted by the incredible Best Buddies team as they arrived, immediately setting a warm and welcoming tone for the evening. Greeters were stationed near both the elevator and stairs to make sure everyone felt welcomed, even if they were not next in line at registration.

Once inside, guests were welcomed with champagne and moved into a cocktail reception filled with live music and a caricature artist. It was a fun way to kick off the evening and give everyone a chance to mingle before the program began.

Bringing the Mission to the Spotlight

The Champion of the Year program is all about celebrating individuals who rally their communities to raise funds and awareness for Best Buddies. Throughout the campaign, Champions work to bring in donations, sponsorships, auction items, and other support, all while sharing the organization's mission of creating opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The gala is the culmination of that work, and we wanted the evening to make every Champion feel like a star.

A Silent Auction With a Little Hollywood Flair

The old Hollywood theme extended into the silent auction. Some of the larger auction packages were highlighted in vintage-style frames, helping them stand out and adding another layer of personality to the room.

A red carpet photo moment with dramatic red velvet drapes gave guests another opportunity to step into the theme and capture a few glamorous photos throughout the night.

Getting Those Paddles Up

When it was time for the live auction, Ellen Toscano took the stage and did what she does best. She kept the energy high and had guests enthusiastically raising their paddles.

To add a little extra fun to the fundraising, guests were given yellow star-shaped sunglasses as an incentive to get their paddles in the air. Once those sunglasses started appearing throughout the ballroom, the room got even more excited. The energy was contagious, and the fundraising momentum built throughout the evening.

A Night That Exceeded Expectations

The event hit its fundraising goal early in the evening, and by the time the night wrapped up, guests had helped raise an incredible $35,000 over the goal. Beyond the fundraising numbers, the evening was a celebration of the Champions, their Mission Partners, and the Best Buddies community. Every detail was designed to make the people at the center of the evening feel celebrated and appreciated.

Turning a Ballroom Into a Celebration

One of our biggest takeaways from this year's gala was the power of a theme. A hotel ballroom can sometimes feel a little corporate or expected, but with the right creative direction, thoughtful details, and a little imagination, it can become something completely different.

Lights, Camera, Inclusion gave guests something to get excited about and created a sense of celebration from the moment they walked through the doors. It also reminded us that thoughtful design does more than make a room look beautiful. It can shape how guests feel and help bring the mission to life. Safe to say, we'll be leaning into themes again in the future. This crowd knows how to celebrate, and we loved giving them a night worthy of the spotlight.

Planning Your Next Event?

Whether you’re dreaming up a theme, figuring out how to bring your vision to life, or need someone to manage all the moving pieces, we’re here to help. From a Soundboard Session to full-service event production, we can meet you wherever you are in the planning process. Ready to make your next event one worth celebrating? Get in touch with us at https://www.preziosieventproductions.com/