Tom Brady & Best Buddies

Tom & Katie

June 02--Boston & Hyannis Port--Committed and involved, for over ten years, Tom Brady has donated his time to make a significant difference in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.  He is a spokesman that articulates the mission of Best Buddies.  It seems Tom is always in the middle of the event, leading the way to promote and share acts of kindness.  This is seen year in and year out.  Tom is a hero to all his Best Buddies.

Family Affair, nephew, sister and son

Classic 

Pursuit

Team Huddle

Award Ceremony

Step and Repeat photos done over a hundred times

Criterion with Katie 

Criterion start

Copyright 2017 Laurence L. Levin

All Rights Reserved.  No Publication Rights Granted without Permission

www.LLLevin.com

Photos made with Nikon D810 24-120mm Nikkor & 70-200mm Nikkor

Joan Jett Performs at the Best Buddies Challenge

Joan Jett, a classis on stage performance. 

June 03--Hyannis Port, MA-- Rock n'Roll icon and trailblazer Joan Jett and her band the Blackhearts performed before a an enthusiastic Best Buddies Challenge audience.  Jett sang her popular hits.  She is known for her influence in the world of rock music.  She was a pioneer as one of the first females in the dominated world of rock music.

Song list posted on the stage

Entering the business at age 15, with the punk-pop band the Runaways, she wrote and recording many songs, including, "I Love Rock n' Rock" additionally, she founded Blackhearts Records which continues to produce and promote female singers and bands.

With her early band, the Runaways, was a hard rock sound in the age of disco.  However they help set a trend of five women singing about sex, rebelling and partying.  Jett appeared in what is now her trademark, red leather jumpsuits.  The band faced an uphill battle of breaking into mainstream music but they persisted, they had many music successes,  their song "Cherry Bomb" was a punk hit. They gained notoriety in Japan, with three gold records.

Microphone stand 

After 1979, Jett and her band the Runaways disbanded.  Going solo was a hard road, 23 different record companies rejected her new album.  Thus she founded Blackhearts Records in 1980 with her producer partner, Kenny Laguna.  With help from, "The Who" Their first album Bad Reputation was picked up by Boardwalk Records.  Although her sound didn't catch on, the second album with "I Love Rock n Roll" with the title track reached #1 on the pop charts in 

1982.

The way people view concerts with their phones

She continues with her three cord rock and roll, and has continuously worked on writing and producing music & releasing albums.  Her last studio album Unvarnished was in 2013.  In 2015 she was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Her record label still promotes "girl bands" and female artists.  Jett also participated in USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tours.  

 

Fans rocking to Joan Jett in the big tent celebrating the Best Buddies Challenge

Copyright 2017 Laurence L. Levin

All Rights Reserved. 

www.LLLevin.com

IG @larrylevin

2016 Hyannis Port Challenge

Buddies Ambassadors at the Harvard Stadium, (homage photo Phillipe Halsman who did a "jump" series), Tori, Kellie, DQ, Katie, Sam, Christina, , Rachel, Ashley

Game Time with Tom Brady

Michael Chiklis selfie with Tom Brady & Julian Edelman in the locker room before the big game.  

Covering The Best Buddies Hyannis Port Challenge for 15 out of the 17 times, is challenging.  Each year, the basic elements are similar.  Trying to find an image that is new and fresh can be,  to say the least, perplexing.  Weeks prior to the event, discussions are underway to brain storm ideas and concepts.  There are phone calls, shot list preparations, and just a lot of thinking to figure how to make this year's event memorable.  Fortunately, there is a wonderful team of staff and volunteer photographers who can concentrate on the must have shots.

This year the plan was for me to shoot less, which meant not having to cover everything, because it would be well documented.  Thus the goal was to find five specific situations, as well as not be shoulder to shoulder with the others.  Additionally, in the "staged" situations find angles that were different and true moments.

It's great to be part of a team of devoted and talented Best Buddies staff and photographers.

Katie Meade with her buddy Tom Brady.(shot from the side of the stage, lucky to get this situation)

A wonderful moment on stage with Chef Guy Fieri with his buddy Michael Jaxtimer Barry.  

At the last second, jumped into the lead car and made this photo at the beginning of the ride. 

After his presentation at lunch Buddies Ambassador Sam Piazza is congratulated by Tom Brady 

Best Buddies Performer Tori Ackley on stage with the Beach Boys.  In addition to this performance, Tori sang the National Anthem at the start of the Football game and 50 mile start

#BestBuddies #HyannisPortChallenge #larrylevinphoto @larrylevin #TomBrady #MichaelChicklis
www.lllevin.com

Copyright 2016 Laurence L. Levin

Best Buddies: George Hincapie

June 04--Boston, MA--George Hincapie riding in the 17th Annual Best Buddies Hyannis Port Challenge.  The 100 mile ride starts in Boston and ends in Hyannis Port.  There are three starting points, 100-mile, 50-mile, 20-mile as well as 5K Walk/Run.  Money raised for the event supports the Best Buddies.  Hincapie has supported Best Buddies for many years.

Copyright 2016 Laurence L. Levin
All Rights Reserved.  No Publications Rights Granted without Written Permission.
www.LLLevin.com

Hyannis Port Challenge

Tom Brady

May 30--Boston and Hyannis Port--I have photographed the Best Buddies Hyannis Port Challenge for a long time.  Each year the goal is to not only capture the obvious shots but find something different.  So after the good looking photo of Tom Brady and the Miss USA winners, the concentration was to find interaction between buddies.

Miss USA Nana Meriwether, Miss Kansas Teen Katie Taylor, Miss Indiana Teen Darrian Arch, Miss Teen USA Logan West

Bryan Link and Will Macom

NFL Center Dan Koppen and Michael Jaxtimer

Sarah and Tom

Copyright 2013 Laurence L. Levin
www.LLLevin.com

Hyannis Port Challenge

Anthony Shriver at the start of the 100 mile ride.

June 02, 2012--Boston/Hyannis Port, MA--The Best Buddies Challenge Hyannis Port is 100, 50, 20 mile bike ride from the Kennedy Library to Craigsville Beach near the Kennedy Compound.  This event raised over $4 million dollars to support the goals of Best Buddies.  

 The pack at the 20 mile mark.

Buddy pair Ian Clemence Shreiner & Dave Micalizzi ride the 100 miles

At the concert with the band Plain White T.

Photography copyright 2012 Laurence L. Levin

www.LLLevin.com

Tom Brady Football Challenge

Tom Brady

June 1, 2012--Harvard Stadium, MA--Thousands attended the Tom Brady Football Challenge to benefit Best Buddies.  The start of the weekend activities to raise awareness for the Best Buddies' Mission.  Brady led both teams to an exciting game.  

Trying to evade defenders, Louis Sciuto leaps through the line.

 Alex O'Brien and his buddy Verne Troyer 

The Tailgate party food prepared by Guy Fieri and Patrick Whelan

Photography Copyright 2012 Laurence L. Levin

www.LLLevin.com

Tom Brady and the Hyannis Port Challenge

Boston & Hyannis Port, MA, June 5-6--Verne Troyer surrounded by Miss USA Rima Fikah and other Miss USA contestants. At Harvard Stadium during the flag football kickoff event for the Best Buddies Hyannis Port Challenge.

Patriot's Quarterback Tom Brady lead both team.

The Brady hundle with Anthony Shriver and the Food Network's Chef Guy Fieri.

Tom Brady looking for receivers.

The start of the Audi Hyannis Port Challenge, a 100-mile bike ride and walk benefitting Best Buddies International.

Two tandem pairs during the 100-mile bike ride.

New England Patriot teammates Dan Koppen and Tom Brady compete in the Criterium.

New England Patriots, Pierre Woods, and Stephen Neal with Buddies.

Tom Brady with a Buddy.

All photography copyright 2010 Laurence L. Levin

Boston to Hyannis Port, Best Buddies Challenge

May 17--Boston/Hyannis Port--The one rule of rain is that it won't stop an event and the rain will stop......eventually. Once again, the Best Buddies Challenge started in a drizzle. The desire, determination and will of the 900 riders was not denied. Their spirit and optimism kept the ride going. Miss Teen USA, Hilary Cruz kept the crowd in a positive mood. This ride raised over $2 million dollars to support Best Buddies' mission to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through friendships and jobs.

Eric Matthes spoke to the crowd about his participation in Best Buddies and the positive influence it made in his life. He rode the 100 mile ride with Best Buddies founder Anthony Shriver.After reaching Hyannis Port, there is a series of Friendship Races. On tandems celebrities ride with a buddy. These races get competitive. Anthony Shriver with Katie Meade streaks past ABC's "The Bachelor" Andy Baldwin with his buddy.

Best Buddies' Founder and Chairman Anthony K. Shriver

The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port Chairman, New England Patriot's Tom Brady with Best Buddies board member Katie Meade