Why Donors Give

Hon. Tony Coelho

"The actual seizures are really not difficult for me. I have them and then I move on. It’s the discrimination. It’s what I call the fear of the unknown. The reason I’m so aggressively open is the lack of education out there. We need to educate. You can be a positive influence no matter who you are."

Please help Tony educate America about epilepsy now.

Bryan Raymond, 9 years old, 2001-2002 Winning Kid

"I tell everyone about epilepsy so they won’t be afraid of other kids that have seizures. I show people that you can have epilepsy and still be smart, fun, happy and kind. I would like others to treat us with respect."

Please help Bryan make a difference now.

The Trowbridge Family, Annual Donors

Michael Trowbridge: "You never think this sort of thing will happen to your kid. Andrea’s diagnosis at age two affected everything. Suddenly nobody slept. We had to worry about schools. We couldn’t take normal vacations -- it just affected our entire world. Every year we make a gift to the Epilepsy Foundation. It’s a tax-wise decision, but more than that our ultimate hope is that our dollars and the donations of others will lead to a cure for our daughter and all those who suffer from epilepsy."

Please help find a cure for Andrea and 316,000 kids like her.

Danny Glover

"From the time I was 15 years old to the time I was 35 years old, I had epilepsy. Despite that fact, I felt that I could win. Everything we do in life, there is some way in which we make necessary accommodations and then we move on -- we push on. We must try to enjoy our lives."

Please help Danny inspire others to enjoy life now.

Jody and Larry Mayer, Planned Giving Donors

Jody: "My life was totally changed because of research. This motivates me to be a donor. I can continue making the world a better place through research the Epilepsy Foundation funds."

Larry: "Larger gifts enhance the options available to the Epilepsy Foundation, and an added personal benefit [to us] is tax reduction."

Save on taxes with planned giving programs.

Samantha Surovcik, 11 years old

"My father is not like other dads. He can’t take us for a ride in his car or take us swimming or even go for long walks. He can’t cook or go up and down stairs. In order for our family to have insurance, my mom works at night. This way, if something happens to my dad, my brother and I will be there. Things that most families take for granted are a luxury for mine. I want to become a neurosurgeon and hope to find a cure for epilepsy to help people who suffer from this disorder, like my father."

Please help Samantha find a cure.

Connie Morris, Annual Donor

"I give appreciated securities at the end of the year because it goes to the Epilepsy Foundation, and I don’t have to pay capital gains tax. It’s a nice way to give to a charity. I believe that a cure for epilepsy will be found. In the meantime, I hope for improved medications and better control for everyone who suffers from seizures."

Learn how to donate stocks and securities.

Kristen LaRoche

"When I went to camp, it was the first time I’d ever been away from home, and I was scared. I cried a lot. At dinner I saw someone have a seizure for the first time -- a boy with grand mal seizures who has to wear a helmet to protect him. Luckily, he didn’t hurt himself. Camp taught me a lot of things. Mainly, there are other people in the world worse off than me. I can walk, talk and breathe without any help. I am proud of myself that I went to camp and tried new things. I would like to help other kids who have special needs."

Please help Kristen achieve new heights now.

Sheila Bierwert, 2001 Co-Chair, Epilepsy Research Challenge

"The only way to give hope to kids who are growing up with epilepsy is to give them more options -- more effective options. Please partner with me in raising funds for epilepsy research."

Please partner with Sheila to raise funds for research.