Nonprofit Seeks To Celebrate Talented People With Disabilities

TAMPA BAY, FL — A Tampa area nonprofit wants to change the lives of four people with disabilities – and you can help find them.

Help Us Gather (HUG) is a nonprofit with a mission to connect people with disabilities to social events and advocate for inclusion. Each year, HUG selects four celebrities who embody the qualities of Charitable, Fearless, Inspirational and Powerful.

This is an opportunity for individuals with special needs to have a team of professionals help them accomplish a goal or achieve a dream. It’s also a chance to step into the spotlight and be celebrated for everything that makes them unique, beautiful and valuable.

“I’m forever grateful for how the team at HUG helped my business when it first launched,” said Mark Fleming, owner and operator of Equally Fit. “Their marketing campaign led to not just getting my business a great start, but to also gaining some international recognition.”

The HUG team has helped recipients build businesses, receive prestigious community awards, start a modeling career, meet their celebrity idol and more. The HUG team works individually with each HUG celebrity to create a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity during the year they are selected.

Here are a few of the HUG stories that went viral around the globe:

• HUG helps model with Down syndrome launch modeling career: HireEthan.org
• HUG promotes first fitness studio owned/operated by a trainer with autism: https://cnn.it/33oKHrT
• HUG helps Miss Fearless 2019 start her own business: SparklesbyMaxine.org
• HUG highlights man with Cerebral palsy’s mission to walk, inspiring celebrities to send encouraging videos: http://bit.ly/AndrewandSyarrah
• HUG’s 2019 Mr. Charitable named Hometown Hero: https://youtu.be/MZ7UEqGGzDM

After being forced to cancel the opportunity in 2020 due to COVID-19, HUG is now actively searching for nominations for the next Mr. or Miss Charitable, Fearless, Inspirational and Powerful. Teens and adults with disabilities are welcome to apply. Anyone can make a nomination (including self-nominations) at HelpUsGather.org/BeyondIncredible.

The HUG celebrities are celebrated at HUG’s annual red-carpet event, Beyond Incredible. The popular night hosts hundreds of guests with special needs and pampers them with hair, makeup, jewelry, accessories, photos, dancing and friendship.

Help Us Gather (HUG) is part of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Clearwater. HUG’s mission is to advocate for inclusion and connect individuals with disabilities to social events and activities. For more information, visit HelpUsGather.org.