Raccoon Media Group is proud to announce that Abilities Expo is being honored with the prestigious ‘Live Award’ from national nonprofit Help Hope Live.
Established in 1979, the Abilities Expo has evolved from a local showcase into the premier nationwide event series for the disability community, empowering attendees with cutting-edge technology, adaptive products, and inclusive experiences.
Following its 2024 acquisition by Raccoon Media Group, the expo has experienced significant expansion in footprint and exhibitor participation. Building on this momentum, 2026 marked a major strategic evolution with the launch of the Abilities International Accessibility Conferences introducing a robust B2B component that bridges the gap between industry leaders, researchers, and users to drive global accessibility standards.
The upcoming award from Help Hope Live recognizes Abilities Expo’s core role as a vital hub for the disability community. The Expo hosts free events across major U.S. cities, bringing life-changing technology, adaptive sports, and hands-on workshops directly to those who need them. Through partnerships with nonprofits for financial assistance and essential services like on-site wheelchair repair, the Abilities Expo provides an empowering environment where families, veterans, and caregivers can find the tools and connection to lead more independent lives.
Commenting on the award nomination Brooke Schostak, Director of Development at Help Hope Live said: “We are truly thrilled to be honoring all that the Abilities Expo does for thousands of people living with disabilities in communities across the country.”
Help Hope Live is a national nonprofit based in Radnor, Pennsylvania, that has dedicated over 40 years to supporting individuals facing life-altering medical challenges, such as organ transplants and catastrophic injuries. They provide a structured, community-based fundraising model that offers unique advantages, including the verification of medical needs to build donor trust and the professional management of funds to help clients maintain eligibility for essential government benefits.
The organization’s annual awards, such as the Rainey and Hope Awards, are vital because they celebrate the extraordinary dedication of the volunteers and community leaders who make this support possible. By honoring these individuals, Help Hope Live highlights the power of collective compassion and reinforces its mission to provide hope and financial security to thousands of families across the country.
“Receiving this recognition from Help Hope Live is a profound honor,” says Katy Roberts, Managing Director USA of Abilities Expo. “While our team is deeply dedicated to supporting the disability community nationwide which is at the core of what we do, it is the strength of our collaborative partnerships that truly allows us to push boundaries and build a more inclusive world.”
The Awards ceremony will take place during the annual Live It Up! Gala in late October 2026.
ENDS
For all media enquiries, contact USA Marketing Director, Chloe Hyland at chloe.hyland@raccoonmediagroup.com
Notes to Editors:
Abilities Expo
Website: https://www.abilities.com/
Where else can you conquer an all-inclusive climbing wall, show off your mad skills in adaptive sports, learn moves from pioneers of inclusive dance, find the perfect device to meet your needs and so much more? Join us at our free, life-changing Expos.
About Raccoon Media Group
Raccoon Media Group was founded in 2018 with the launch of the multi-award-winning National Running Show and over the next few years went on to launch many popular consumer events in health and wellbeing markets. The business has expanded significantly since its inception and is now a dynamic, scaled, high-growth media business focused on mobilizing passion-led B2C and B2B communities across the globe. Our events and media properties deliver year-round content and advice to specialist, self-identifying audiences. Raccoon is entrepreneurial, fast-paced and disruptive. As a business we question the status quo, we invest in exceptional people, we operate with a clear purpose and deliver sustainable events that directly meet the needs of our audiences in a way that ignites and bolsters the industries in which we operate.