We are thrilled to announce our 14th annual Live It Up! Gala will take place on Thursday, October 29 at The Drexelbrook.
This special night brings together our community to celebrate impact, raise critical funds for our mission, and honor extraordinary individuals whose leadership and dedication embody the spirit of our work.
Live It Up! is our most festive night of the year, featuring a plated dinner by Best of the Main Line’s John Serock, an open bar, silent auction, and (our favorite part!) the Help Hope Live Awards. This year, we are proud to honor four exceptional members of the Help Hope Live community.
Tickets will be available in July 2026. Email us if you’d like to be notified when tickets go on sale!
Meet Our 2026 Honorees
HELP AWARD: Amanda Parezo,OTD, MS, OTR/L
Amanda Parezo, OTD, MS, OTR/L is an occupational therapist, educator, advocate, and model based in Philadelphia.
She also is a gun violence survivor. Paralyzed from the waist down after being struck by a stray bullet while sitting in an East Kensington, PA playground after a kickball game in 2021, Amanda now navigates the world from her wheelchair.
With more than 16 years of experience in rehabilitation and community health, she is an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program at Thomas Jefferson University. We are pleased to recognize her this year for having skillfully transformed her personal trauma into purpose-driven advocacy, emerging as a nationally recognized voice in accessibility, adaptive recreation, and gun violence awareness.
HOPE AWARD: Cristina L. Sadowsky, MD
Cristina L. Sadowsky, MD, is Clinical Director and Co-Founder of the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore and a Professor of Clinical Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Every day, Cristina works to restore hope and independence for children and adults with spinal cord–related paralysis and other injuries. She has created a globally recognized model of lifelong, integrated care for individuals with SCI/D, setting a national standard and influencing leading programs in the U.S. and worldwide.
Her work is grounded in the philosophy that functional restoration is activity-dependent and best achieved through structured medical rehabilitation.
LIVE AWARD: Abilities Expo brought to you by Raccoon Media, accepted by Katy Roberts, Managing Director USA, Abilities Expo
Hosted in a variety of major U.S. cities, Abilities Expos are free-to-attend events that serve as an accessible hub for the latest in assistive technology, adaptive sports, and transportation and resources to enhance daily living experiences for people with disabilities.
Led by Katy Roberts, Managing Director of Abilities Expo and Mike Seaman, Group CEO of Raccoon Media Group, Abilities Expos offer a rare opportunity for people in the disability community to learn about critical resources and network with others living with similar disabilities to their own.
RAINEY AWARD (VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR): Jeremy Babener, Esq.
Jeremy Babener, Esq. will receive the 2026 Rainey Award for “Volunteer of the Year” in recognition of his outstanding leadership and advocacy as the initiator of the Plaintiff Fund, which has created a critical lifeline to assist injured individuals in their physical and mental recovery.
In November 2025, Jeremy led a $1 million pledge to help those facing significant medical and financial challenges. Of this commitment, $750,000 is directed to assisting plaintiffs through community-based medical fundraising efforts.
The Plaintiff Fund supports plaintiffs both before and after they navigate the legal system and has already helped launch three new Help Hope Live client campaigns.
We hope you’ll join us on Thursday, October 29 for an unforgettable evening celebrating these outstanding honorees and another year of impact, community, and fundraising excellence.
Thank you for being part of our community and for helping us make a difference.
