Community Corner
Model with Disability Highlighted in New Advertising Campaign
Local nonprofit continues partnership with major retailer, selects new model with disability for upcoming campaign
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Help Us Gather (HUG), a Clearwater-based nonprofit with a mission to advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities, is again partnering with beachwear retailer Surf Style to show fashion is for everyone. After a 2019 campaign featuring a model with Down syndrome went viral around the world, Surf Style will now feature a new model with Cerebral palsy in a 2021 campaign that is hitting stores soon.
Andrew Brettner, Surf Style’s newest model, is a 25-year-old St. Petersburg resident whose good looks often draw comparisons to Tom Cruise. Brettner uses a power chair for mobility, which is featured prominently in the new campaign. HUG recruited Brettner to model for both his good looks, and the opportunity to create disability awareness and normalize mobility devices in daily life.
The shoot was held in late April on the Treasure Island MobiMat, an accessible, non-slip, permanent pathway that leads from the parking lot to just a few feet from the water. It allows people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices to join family and friends for a day on the beach. According to MobiMat, only 30 parks and public beaches in the state of Florida are equipped with one.
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“People with disabilities are the nation’s largest minority group, yet they are rarely featured in fashion marketing,” said Robin Lally, Founder of HUG. “They deserve to be included in every facet of life and this campaign is a great step forward.”
HUG takes every opportunity that it can to push for social inclusion for people with disabilities in business, school and everyday life. The nonprofit hopes this new campaign will continue to highlight the need for diversity and inclusion in marketing and that more companies, both small and large, will follow Surf Style’s lead.
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“It’s an important message and it really resonates with us. We are happy to continue featuring models with disabilities and working with HUG,” said Tara Malinasky, Marketing Manager at Surf Style.
Help Us Gather (HUG) is part of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Clearwater, Florida. HUG’s mission is to advocate for inclusion and connect individuals with disabilities to social events and activities. Learn more at HelpUsGather.org.
