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2019 Celebrities

Help Us Gather’s Celebrity Event is a chance for supporters to see how the nonprofit is impacting local lives and creating important social change throughout the year. The one-of-a-kind affair also features four HUG Celebrities who embody the qualities of Inspirational, Charitable, Powerful and Fearless. HUG’s Top Model, Ethan Holt, will also be making an appearance at the event.
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Attendees at HUG’s Celebrity Event learn about the Celebrities’ backgrounds, see video from their 2019 celebrity appearances in the community and get the chance to personally interact with these motivating and dynamic adults. It’s an opportunity to see firsthand how these individuals with disabilities are improving the world around them.

Mr. Charitable

Miss Fearless

Tim was chosen as 2019’s Mr. Charitable because of his hard work and dedication to helping animals in our community.
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Tim volunteers his time helping kittens and cats at the Humane Society of Pinellas. He loves bringing nervous felines out of their shell by giving them love, attention and affection. Tim opens his heart to animals, helping them adjust to social interaction and get adopted more easily.

Maxine was chosen as 2019’s Miss Fearless because she is one of the most confident people HUG has ever met.
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From starting her own business making blinged-out headbands to striking a pose in front of the camera, Maxine is never afraid to try something new. Every time she walks into a room, she brings the #Sparkles.

Mr. Powerful

Mr. Inspirational

Mark was chosen as 2019’s Mr. Powerful because of his extraordinary personal and professional achievements.
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Mark trains clients with special needs and recently opened his own gym, making him the first person with autism to own and operate a fitness studio in Tampa Bay. He’s appeared on every local TV news station in the Tampa Bay area and his efforts were profiled on CNN.

Andrew was chosen as 2019’s Mr. Inspirational because of how easily he touches the lives of everyone he meets.
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Andrew inspires others simply by being himself. His fight to grow stronger through fitness training and physical therapy is truly uplifting to see. When Andrew smiles, the whole room lights up with him!

HUG’s Top Model

Ethan Holt is an exceptionally talented model with Down syndrome.
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HUG helped Ethan use his natural talent and striking good looks to break into the modeling industry. Ethan is a media sensation, with multiple TV news segments and a modeling campaign for Surf Style already under his belt. The future is certainly bright for Ethan, with more exciting opportunities already in the works. View Ethan’s modeling page at HireEthan.org

This event benefits the nonprofit Help Us Gather or HUG, a 501(c)(3) charity founded by local resident Robin Lally. HUG advocates for inclusion and connects individuals with disabilities to social events and activities in the community.

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