Free Wheelchair Mission sets 25th anniversary Miracle of Mobility events

Free Wheelchair Mission will mark its 25th anniversary with in-person and virtual Miracle of Mobility events in September 2026, featuring Jason Kennedy, Candace Cameron Bure and for KING + COUNTRY. The nonprofit says the campaigns will help raise funds and awareness as it pushes toward a goal of 3 million wheelchairs by 2035.

Why it matters: - Free Wheelchair Mission is using its 25th anniversary to spotlight mobility as a basic need for people with disabilities in developing countries. - The events are designed to raise funds, expand awareness and support the nonprofit’s long-term goal of providing 3 million wheelchairs by 2035. - The organization says it has already distributed 1.6 million wheelchairs in 95 developing countries since 2001.

What happened: - Free Wheelchair Mission announced its 2026 Miracle of Mobility events to celebrate 25 years of service. - Orange County’s Miracle of Mobility is set for Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at 5 p.m. PDT at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. - Television host and producer Jason Kennedy will host the Orange County celebration. - The Virtual Miracle of Mobility will stream Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, with actress, producer, director and author Candace Cameron Bure returning as host. - The virtual event will include a performance by for KING + COUNTRY.

The details: - Kennedy spent 18 years at E! as host of E! News and Live From the Red Carpet and has also been a longtime contributor to NBC’s Today. - Kennedy has recently guest-hosted and interviewed guests for Access Hollywood. - Kennedy has a personal connection to disability advocacy through his wife, Lauren Scruggs Kennedy, who experienced limb loss after an accident at age 23. - Cameron Bure is an Emmy-nominated actress and New York Times bestselling author known for Full House and Fuller House. - Cameron Bure has participated in a wheelchair distribution and met recipients whose lives changed through mobility. - Cameron Bure said seeing the impact of a wheelchair in the Dominican Republic showed her the gift can bring freedom and hope to entire families. - for KING + COUNTRY have four GRAMMY Awards, 13 No. 1 hits and more than 5 billion career streams. - The brothers first partnered with Free Wheelchair Mission for the inaugural Virtual Miracle of Mobility in 2020. - Free Wheelchair Mission founder Don Schoendorfer, PhD, launched the nonprofit in 2001. - The Irvine, California-based nonprofit designs and manufactures durable wheelchairs and distributes them through a worldwide network of partners at no cost to recipients.

Between the lines: - The event lineup leans on recognizable entertainment figures to broaden the reach of a cause that can otherwise struggle to compete for attention. - The mix of an in-person gala and a virtual program suggests Free Wheelchair Mission is trying to maximize both fundraising and participation. - Nuka Hart, CEO of Free Wheelchair Mission, said the anniversary is a chance to welcome more supporters and distribution partners and to carry the work forward.

What's next: - Supporters can attend the Orange County event, stream the virtual program or host a watch party. - Tickets, registration and event details are available at Miracle of Mobility. - Free Wheelchair Mission will use the 25th-anniversary events to build momentum toward its 2035 wheelchair target. - The nonprofit plans to keep highlighting wheelchair recipients and distribution partners as it enters its next chapter.