Help Hope Live @helphopeliveorg

The Live Award recognizes organizations and leaders whose extraordinary commitment improves the lives of people facing significant medical challenges. This year, Help Hope Live is proud to name @AbilitiesExpo as the 2026 Live Award recipient. For more than four decades, Abilities Expo—by Raccoon Media Group—has brought together individuals with disabilities, caregivers, families, and professionals to connect with life-changing resources, innovative products, educational opportunities, and one another. What began as an event has grown into a trusted community that thousands of people rely on for support, connection, and hope. Abilities Expo's commitment to accessibility and empowerment reflects the very spirit of the Live Award—helping people discover new possibilities and reminding them they are never alone on their journey. We're honored to recognize Abilities Expo with this year's Live Award at Live It Up! 2026. 🎟️ Join us on October 29 as we celebrate Abilities Expo and this year's remarkable honorees while supporting Help Hope Live's mission. To reserve your seat or explore sponsorship opportunities, visit: liveitup26.givesmart.com #LiveItUp2026

If you were unable to attend but want to join with us in securing customized adaptive bikes for kids with disabilities across PA, NJ, and, DE, make a tax-deductible donation at: helphopelive.org/donate-to-camp…

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This weekend, we had the chance to participate in an epic first-year event: the Tri Everything Adaptive Youth Triathlon in Ambler, PA! Open to kids aged 3-22 living with disabilities, the event was volunteer-supported and full of opportunities to swim, bike, and/or run with the help of a buddy. The event was created by Melanie Fry, PT, DPT, PCS – Clinical Director for Ivy Rehab for Kids in Horsham, PA. Melanie put this exceptional gathering together in just a few short months of intensive planning. We were blown away! We send our special thanks to the event organizers and volunteers for their generosity in naming the Help Hope Live Adaptive Bike Fund as the charity beneficiary. Through this designation, the athletics and hope we saw on display serve an added purpose: ensuring that other local kids and young adults in the area have the opportunity to enjoy an adaptive bike tailored to their unique mobility needs. #adaptivesports #disability #triathlon #amblerpa #rehab

🎉 HAPPY NATIONAL NONPROFIT DAY! 🎉 For more than 40 years, Help Hope Live has been powered by one simple belief: when a medical crisis creates a financial gap, no one should have to figure out how to fill it alone. This belief has helped us place medical care within reach for thousands of families nationwide—providing trusted, one-on-one fundraising support while helping communities come together to raise funds for the expenses that can make all the difference. From medications and medical equipment to accessible home modifications, as well as physical therapy, medical travel, innovative treatments, and emergency living assistance, every dollar raised represents something bigger: a person getting access to the care they need and deserve. On National Nonprofit Day, we celebrate every client, family member, donor, volunteer, partners, Ambassador, and supporter who has chosen to be part of this mission. You are the reason Help Hope Live has been able to turn generosity into impact for more than four decades. Today, we celebrate what we've accomplished together, and all that's yet to come!

At Cobbs Creek Golf Course in Philadelphia this month, people with spinal cord injuries had the opportunity to attend a free @AdapTeeGolf clinic with people from @helphopeliveorg in attendance ⛳ helphopelive.org/golf-after-par… #golf #adaptivesports

The Hope Award recognizes leaders who foster hope through compassion, innovation, and an unyielding commitment to improving the lives of people facing serious medical challenges. This year, Help Hope Live is proud to honor Cristina Sadowsky, MD, as the 2026 Hope Award recipient. As an internationally recognized leader in spinal cord injury rehabilitation, Dr. Sadowsky has dedicated her career to advancing innovative treatments, groundbreaking research, and compassionate, patient-centered care. Through her work at the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute, she has helped redefine what's possible after paralysis, empowering countless individuals and families with renewed hope and independence. Through her unwavering commitment to innovation, excellence, and the SCI community, Dr. Sadowsky embodies the spirit of the Hope Award. We are honored to recognize Dr. Sadowsky this October. 🎟️ Learn more and reserve your seat: liveitup26.givesmart.com #LiveItUp2026

Some milestones are measured in years. Others are measured in everything those years have made possible. This August, three Help Hope Live Ambassadors are celebrating moments that represent years of perseverance, generosity, and hope: ✨ August 9: Joanna McCray celebrates nine years of fundraising with Help Hope Live ✨ August 12: Pat McEntee honors the nine-year anniversary of his heart transplant ✨ August 25: This year marks 10 years since Melissa Tuff started her Help Hope Live fundraising journey! Joanna, Pat, and Melissa, thank you for sharing your experiences and using them to encourage, conect with, and advocate for others. We are so grateful to have you and be a small part of your amazing stories. Here's to celebrating many more milestones to come!

The Help Award recognizes organizations and leaders that stand out for their success in bringing our mission to life. This year, we're proud to honor Amanda Parezo, OTD, MS, OTR/L, as the 2026 Help Award recipient. As an occupational therapist, educator, founder of Ramp Up Philly, and disability advocate, Amanda has dedicated her carer to advancing accessibility and inclusion. Following her spinal cord injury, she transformed lived experience into a powerful platform for advocacy—working to remove barriers, expand opportunities, and ensure people with disabilities are seen, represented, and empowered. From educating the next generation of occupational therapists at Thomas Jefferson University to championing accessibility throughout Philadelphia and beyond, Amanda continues to make a lasting impact on the disability community. Through her advocacy, leadership, and unwavering commitment to accessibility, Amanda is helping create a future where people with disabilities can fully participate in the communities where they live, work, and thrive. We're honored to recognize Amanda with this year's Help award at Live It Up! 2026 and celebrate the incredible impact she's making every day. 🎟️ Join us on October 29 as we celebrate Amanda and this year's remarkable honorees. Learn more and reserve your seat: liveitup26.givesmart.com

Earlier last week, we were proud to celebrate PA Donor Day! 💙💚 Held each year on August 1 (8/1), PA Donor Day highlights one incredible fact: just one organ donor can save up to eight lives. For so many individuals and families in our community, the gift of organ donation can mean hope, more time, and an entirely new chapter. PA Donor Day may only last 24 hours, but the difference one donation can make can last a lifetime. 💚 Learn more: donatelifepa.org/pa-donor-day/ @DonateLife

Ahead of the weekend, please join us in celebrating the remarkable individuals and organizations being honored at Live It Up! 2026, Help Hope Live's signature gala. This year, we're proud to recognize leaders, advocates, innovators, and changemakers whose work is transforming lives and creating a more inclusive world for people facing medical challenges and disabilities. 🏆 Help Award: Amanda Parezo, OTD, MS, OTR/L, Thomas Jefferson University 🏆 Hope Award: Cristina Sadowsky, MD, Kennedy Krieger Institute 🏆 Live Award: Abilities Expo by Raccoon Media Group 🏆 Rainey Award: Jeremy Babener, Structured Legal Each honoree has made an extraordinary impact in their own way—from advancing accessibility and groundbreaking rehabilitation to expanding opportunities, protecting families, and strengthening communities. Join us on October 29 as we these inspiring honorees and the supporters who make the Help Hope Live community so extraordinary, while raising critical funds to help individuals and families facing life-changing medical challenges. To reserve your seat or learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit: liveitup26.givesmart.com #LiveItUp2026

The Every Child Deserves a Bike program has changed the lives of dozens of local kids with special physical need. Here is Brad Marsh (@BradMarshNHL) with a special message for Flyers fans.

This weekend Determined2Heal & SPINALpedia will bring 45+ individuals with SCI + their families to 3 unforgettable days of 15 accessible adventures/activities. To every sponsor who supported this year’s Adventurous Weekend: THANK YOU! #Determined2Heal #SpinalCordInjury

Hello from Houston! This weekend we are in Texas taking some time to see our friends at @AbilitiesExpo Houston! We are so excited to be here connecting with new and familiar faces talking about all of the ways Help Hope Live can help people fundraise for life-changing medically related expenses. If you're here, stop by booth 418—we'd love to say hello! And don't miss our workshop on Sunday! During our session, you’ll learn about a powerful way to raise funds with Help Hope Live’s expert guidance and nonprofit benefits. Learn more here! helphopelive.org/event/our-work…

Earlier this week, we had the immense pleasure of speaking with Stevie VanAusdale, a licensed mental health professional experienced in disability-related care, Andrew Zimmer, Help Hope Live’s SCI Outreach Representative, and Erin Field, disability rights advocate and mental health counseling student. During the discussion, Stevie shared a message that many people needed to hear: "Burnout is not happening just because you don't have resilience." Watch the full webinar to explore the conversation in depth and hear more expert insights on mental health after spinal cord injury: youtu.be/zKtrUUnQA-Y?si…

At Help Hope Live, we know that behind every fundraising journey is someone showing up with unwavering love, strength, and determination. Parents are often the first advocates, caregivers, cheerleaders, and champions—standing beside their loved ones through every challenge and milestone. In honor of National Parents' Day over the weekend, we wanted to recognize one set of parents in particular: Help Hope Live client @coachkeithhenry and @henryfam1, whose strength and perseverance continues to motivate not only our community, but also their son, professional football player @thekjhenry. For the third year in a row, KJ chose to make Help Hope Live part of his annual "Why Not Me" football camp, making a generous donation in honor of his dad while also raising awareness of Help Hope Live's mission. Rather than charging families to attend, KJ made the camp completely free for participants and made a contribution to Help Hope Live on behalf of every child who attended. “I made it free for the kids and made the contribution on their behalf. It allowed us to have more kids attend, so we really enjoyed the camp.” — KJ Henry July also holds another special milestone for the Henry family: July 14 was the four-year anniversary of Keith's live-saving kidney transplant. The Henry family's commitment to giving back extends far beyond the football field. Earlier this year, Nicole joined us at a Bags of Hope volunteer event at Chatham Financial, helping assemble care packages for hospital patients in need of a little sprinkle of joy. As we continue to celebrate National Parents' Day, we're especially grateful to parents like Keith and Nicole, whose strength and unwavering love leave a lasting legacy—like a son who chooses to give back so others can experience hope, too. Thank you to Keith, Nicole, and every parent and caregiver in the Help Hope Live family for the love and encouragement you share each day. 💙

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Today's the day! Join us for “Why Mental Health Matters” after a spinal cord injury at 5 p.m. ET, sponsored by @UnitedAccess. Together, we'll explore the emotional and mental health challenges that can come with life after a spinal cord injury—and the strategies and support that can help. Register now! helphopelive.org/event/hope-tal…

Today, we celebrate 36 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed—a landmark civil rights law protecting the rights of people with disabilities. For 36 years, the ADA has helped transform everyday life by replacing barriers with opportunity. Because of the ADA, discrimination based on disability is prohibited in all aspects of the employment cycle. Because of the ADA, transportation routes and services must be accessible for all. Automatic doors? Accessible parking spaces? That's because of the ADA. Because of the ADA, telecommunications are mandated to offer aids and service options to ensure effective communication for individuals with hearing, vision or speech disabilities. We are proud to support the ADA and thrilled to celebrate the 36th anniversary of the law that works to ensure all people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. #ADA36 #ADAAnniversary VIDEO TRANSCRIPT Slide 1 - Celebrating the 36th Anniversary of American's with Disabilities Act. Learn more! Slide 2 - What is the Americans with Disabilities Act? Signed into effect on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects the rights of individuals with disabilities. The ADA made it illegal to discriminate against an individual living with a disability. Slide 3 - What does the ADA impact? Employment accommodations, workplace accommodations, education, transportation, access to public spaces, technology & digital accessibility

🔔 NEW INTERVIEW JUST DROPPED! 🔔 Earlier this month, our Director of Outreach, Sonny Mullen, joined Brenda Marra of Renna's Corner for an episode of Renna's Corner Conversations to discuss how families can confidently fundraise for medical and disability-related expenses. During the conversation, Sonny shared how Help Hope Live empowers individuals and families to fundraise for needs like service dogs, adaptive equipment, wheelchair-accessible vehicles, home modifications, and so much more. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, healthcare professional, or know someone navigating a medical diagnosis, this conversation is for you. 💙 A very special thank you to Brenda for inviting us into the world of Renna's Corner, allowing us to be part of this meaningful conversation, and helping shine a light on resources that can make a real difference for families. You can watch the full interview here! youtu.be/_WlBu3T7QKA?si…

This story serves as a reminder that one connection can create a ripple effect of hope. 💙 What started as a Hope Travels 5K participant looking for a way to give back turned into an incredible day of service. After participating in this year's Hope Travels 5K, Justin Mattia reached out this summer looking for volunteer opportunities while interning at Mondrian. With the support of fellow Mondrian and Drexel co-op interns, the team came together to pack 50 Bags of Hope for patients and their families. A special thank you to Maddie Hammond for helping coordinate the event, and to Help Hope Live Board Chair Jim Madden for joining us to celebrate the day and the impact this incredible group made together. One of the most inspiring moments? Several volunteers shared that they'd love to bring a Bags of Hope packing event to their college campuses and student organizations throughout the year. Thank you Justin, Maddie, Jim, and the entire Mondrian and Drexel intern team for helping turn one connection into meaningful support for families when they need it most. 💙

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Jacob's first goal = reached! Thanks to the incredible generosity of supporters, Help Hope Live client Jacob Kennedy's first fundraising goal has been reached: a pool lift has officially been secured and installed, and is already making it possible for him to safely enjoy time in the pool with his family this summer. As Jacob put it best: "THANK YOU SO MUCH!" His family shared, "Jacob's heart, body, and mind are so thankful! Here's to a summer full of swimming!" While this milestone is worth celebrating, Jacob's journey isn't over yet. Next, his family is working toward a wheelchair compatible vehicle to make everyday life and transportation more accessible. Thanks to supporters like you, families can keep reaching life-changing milestones. Congratulations, Jacob! Here's to a fun summer under the sun and in your cool pool!