URGENT CALL TO HELP! Epilepsy Foundation of Florida in the Chase for $500,000 via Facebook

MIAMI, May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The race is on and every minute counts as the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida (EFOF) competes against 99 other charities to win $500,000 by Wednesday this week!  The national competition is sponsored by the Chase Community Giving Spring 2011 program, which is encouraging people to vote for their favorite charity via Facebook.

The 100 charities competing for the grand prize were initially selected from hundreds of thousands of charities, based on their program goals for the $500,000 award. EFOF plans to direct all proceeds to new and expanded programs aimed at helping children in Florida living with epilepsy.

To help get the word out about the countdown, the EFOF reached out to Team Epilepsy, a Facebook community dedicated to connecting people living with epilepsy to a clinical trial for people still experiencing uncontrolled partial seizures despite taking medicine.  

"We are trying hard to win so that tens of thousands of children living in Florida can benefit from programs that currently are not offered or limited due to a lack of funding," explains Karen Basha Egozi, EFOF Chief Executive Officer.  According to Egozi, EFOF will establish a seizure dog training program with the winning funds, will fund its summer camp program enabling kids to attend a week-long summer camp program designed especially for those living with seizures, and will begin an in-home safety program that brings professionals into homes to create a safer 'seizure environment.'  Monies are also earmarked to provide medical care to people living with epilepsy that have no health insurance and struggle to afford much needed medicines.  

The EFOF was awarded $25,000 in the first round of the Chase Community Giving's Big Idea program.  Now, having advanced to the second round, the EFOF needs to get as many votes as possible by midnight, EDT on Wednesday, May 25.  The EFOF is the only epilepsy organization in the nation competing for the $500,000 grand prize.  

People are encouraged to visit http://bit.ly./ChaseEpilepsy and give 30 seconds of their time to cast their vote for the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida. The Team Epilepsy Facebook community is rallying its more than 7,000 fans to join the cause, and get the word out nationally.  

To learn more about the EFOF visit www.EpilepsyFLA.org.  To learn more about Team Epilepsy, visit www.TeamEpilepsy.com or www.facebook.com/TeamEpilepsy.  

The Epilepsy Foundation of Florida (EFOF) was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) and  serves as the lead advocate for rights and needs of people with epilepsy and other seizure disorders.  In the U.S., about 42,000 people die each year from epilepsy seizures and related causes; (imagine, this is equal to over 100 jumbo jet plane crashes).  With offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Gainesville and Pensacola -- EFOF provides counseling, education, seizure prevention services along with direct medical and neuropsychological services. EFOF is designated a high value charity; 91% of expenditures go directly to program costs. For more information, visit www.epilepsyfla.org or call 877-553-7453.

About Chase Community Giving

Chase Community Giving is a program inspiring a new way of corporate philanthropy by encouraging people to vote to help determine which non profits will receive donations from Chase's philanthropy funds. The program is providing over $5 million in grants to charities nationwide. Charitable support includes arts and culture; education and youth development; environment; animal welfare; health and social services; community development; medical research and awareness; recreation and sports; and international development.

About Team Epilepsy

Created by MediciGlobal, a company dedicated to bringing clinical trials to patients and advancing the development of new medicines, Team Epilepsy was created earlier this year to inform people about a current clinical trial for add-on therapy. It's Facebook community, Team Epilepsy, has received nationwide recognition from the epilepsy community in bringing this clinical trial opportunity to those living with epilepsy, receiving medication and yet still experiencing break through seizures.

The clinical trial is being conducted at over 60 centers across the US. People can learn more about this opportunity by visiting www.TeamEpilepsy.com.

SOURCE Team Epilepsy