September 21, 2026
A hot day didn’t stop the Royal Celebration at Northside Park in Breese for the 20th Annual Community Link Buddy Walk on Saturday, September 19. Over 1300 noble members of the community registered to celebrate all individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. Community Link is thankful to announce that $169,000 has been raised to-date to support the participants and mission of the organization. They are grateful for the families, teams, businesses and community who gave generously for the great success.
The event was pushed up to be an hour earlier to beat the heat, and started with a karaoke party and fashion show with performances by Community Link participants and friends backed by DJ-RYD’L of Singderella’s Entertainment. Poettker Construction generously installed a ramp, and sponsored the temporary stage, making it accessible to all for the performances and festivities of the day. Prizes for performers were provided by Eterna Beauty and Wellness.
The performances were followed by an opening ceremony with Michelle Delfel, Director of Donor Engagement, and Hayley Palm, Communications and Outreach Manager of Community Link thanking and congratulating the sponsors and top fundraising teams to date. Willa’s Wonders has been the top fundraising team this year bringing in over $16,000. The largest family team was Colin’s Crusaders with 70 team members registered.
Community Link’s Executive Director, John Huelskamp, addressed the crowd with royal ambassadors, Sean and Mallory, as well as t-shirt artist, Eric, by his side, stating, “Sean and Mallory both attend our adult day program, live in our CILA program, and most importantly for today, walked together in Community Link’s first Buddy Walk together 20 years ago. They represent our past, our present, and our future.”
Bryce Albers did a great job singing the National Anthem for the fifth year. Then at 10am, the Buddy Walk began. The shortened walk, led by the Breese Fire Department through the neighborhood of Breese, was a large crowd of enthusiastic friends and families walking with their loved ones and showing their support for the participants of Community Link. Central Football and Basketball Cheer and The Beat encouraged walkers along the route.
The park was a bustle of activity before and after the walk, with emcees Sean Thomas and Manuel Martinez sharing all there was to do. Community Link participants, James, Danielle, and Charlene sold their hand-crafted items.
A raffle, including a Recteq Grill from Foppe Ace Hardware and a quarter of beef donated by local farmers and Fischer’s Butchering and Deli, was won by Bailey Rinella and Tiffany Menkhaus.
New this year was a silent auction exclusively featuring dozens of original pieces created by participants at Community Link. All proceeds from the auction benefit the East Side Shenanigans team and raise funds for future projects.
Food vendors at this year’s event included Suits Me BBQ, Fantastick Pops, Sip N Scoot Mobile Café, and Big Eats and Sweet Treats. The Red Porch Café had delicious made-to-order sandwiches. Sodas and water were donated from Excel Bottling and Dieterich Bank, kept cool with ice donated by CC Food Marts.
There were many other activities filling up the morning including yard games, slap bracelet decorating, crown decorating, cookie decorating, and face painting. Community Link is grateful to friends at UNCOMN for volunteering and providing the supplies for the fun activities.
Donations can still be made at the Community Link website commlink.org/buddywalk. Further information about the walk, sponsors, and ways to stay involved will be shared on the organization’s Facebook page at facebook.com/commlink1972.
Community Link is especially grateful to the 87 generous sponsors who have made the walk possible every year including Presenting Sponsors: Poettker Construction, Dairy King, HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital, Employers Consulting Group, FCB BANKS, Breese Knights of Columbus, and Bradford National Bank.
Gold Sponsors: Carlyle Knights of Columbus, HMG Engineers, State Representative Charlie Meier, Dodd & Wambold Estate Planning & Elder Law, DBA Custom Woodworking, ShelterLogic Group, Klostermann State Farm Insurance, The Knights of Columbus - Niemeyer Agency, Kassen Excavating, Litteken Construction, Breese Optimist Club, Diversified Diesel Services, Gelly Excavating and Construction, Cargill Protein, AVH Print & Stitch, D7 Roofing, Midwest National Bank, Foppe Ace Hardware, Excel Bottling Company, Trenton Knights of Columbus, Grapperhaus Metal Co, and Rehkemper & Son.
Silver Sponsors: Highland Knights of Columbus, Albers/Damiansville Knights of Columbus, Suits Me BBQ and Dessertz, Foppe Insurance Agency, Southern Bus & Mobility, Spencer Homes, Dieterich Bank, CC Food Marts, Jansen Chevrolet, Community Transportation Development, Bartelso Knights of Columbus, K&J Chevrolet, City of Breese, V&H Recreation, Huels Oil Company, Clinton County Garage Door, Love You More Foundation, Germantown Trust & Savings Bank, Prairie Farms Dairy, T and T Electric, UNCOMN, Priority Plumbing Services, Carlyle Healthcare and Senior Living, Litteken Plumbing Co, Three Way Creations, Resilient Fitness, CT Fike Company, Murphy Excavation & Contracting, Pisces Pools Plus, and L&D Wilson Siding and Roofing.
Community Link also thanks the 28 generous Bronze sponsors who donated for the walk.
Community Link, a nonprofit agency, is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities through a person-centered approach that promotes self-directed living choices and community integration opportunities. The mission of Community Link is to provide opportunities for choice, growth, and independence for adults with developmental disabilities. For more information visit commlink.org.