We attended the fourth annual Reeve Summit, which took place March 6-8, 2024 in Washington, D.C.
The goal of the Reeve Summit is to bring together professionals, thought leaders, and the entire paralysis community to discuss critical topics ranging from health care disparities to caregiving to cutting-edge research.
We got the chance to exhibit, participate, and connect with paralysis community members that have a close connection to our mission.
Take a look!
“The theme for this year’s Reeve Summit was, Where Care, Cure and Community Connect,” explained Sonny, our Director of Outreach.
“The Reeve Summit brought together so many members of the paralysis community that it felt more like a reunion than a conference.”
We met Help Hope Live clients and team members, board members, members of our extended community, and client Ambassadors like Josh Basile, pictured above.
Just after arriving, Sonny got the chance to meet client Noah Williams and his mother, Naomi.
During opening keynote remarks, Noah was recognized as the youngest speaker at the 2024 Reeve Summit for his participation in presentations on outdoor adventures and caregiving.
“The Reeve Summit 2024 program was jam-packed with incredible information on everything from pregnancy with paralysis to accessible outdoor adventures,” said Sonny.
“The information left everyone feeling hopeful and truly connected to the possibility of a future that includes a cure for paralysis.”
“The event’s programming was exceptional, featuring insightful discussions on a range of topics focused on the paralysis community, including disability representation in the US Census, pregnancy and spinal cord injury, federal and state policy, and a panel on gun violence and SCI,” reflected Kelley Simoneaux, a Help Hope Live board member, Hope Talk panelist, and perpetual advocate.
“The Summit was a source of invaluable insights and connections.”
Client Ambassador and Hope Talk panelist Dani Izzie’s Reeve Summit experience included spending time in the unique space “where the professional and personal collide.”
After a day at the Reeve Summit, Dani shared a dinner with Sonny, Kelley, and Diego Mariscal, a mentee of Judy Heumann who most recently advocated for Census equity for the disability community.
“Sonny has impacted my life for years, bringing a robust fundraising platform to transplant recipients and those with catastrophic injuries. It was emotional to meet in-person this week for the first time,” explained Dani.
“You’ve impacted the world, and you’ve impacted me.”
Julie Chambers, a client Ambassador, helped us share Help Hope Live’s trusted medical fundraising mission with Reeve Summit attendees.
“The Summit was full of networking, collaboration, education, and interaction with like-minded professionals and leaders,” Julie shared. “These collaborations will lead to new opportunities, sparking innovative thoughts and new friendships. Engaging with the latest research and case studies presented at the Reeve Summit deepened understanding of the complexities and challenges of the disability community.”
As Julie explained, the Reeve Summit authentically reflects the values that make the Reeve Summit a cornerstone resources within the paralysis and disability communities:
“Everything from the discussion sessions to the panelists to the expert speakers underlined the core values of the Reeve Foundation.”
We couldn’t agree more with Julie’s final thoughts:
“There was a clear vision at the Reeve Summit—I look forward to the next one.”
